‘Long’-armed creature with 7 eggs found on mountain in China. It’s a new species
In a mountainous river valley of central China, a “long”-limbed creature with a “wheat-colored tongue” perched on a rock. Its blotchy brown coloring helped it blend in with its surroundings, but not well enough.
Visiting scientists noticed the “rare” animal — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers visited the Dadu River valley in Sichuan Province several times between 2018 and 2024 to survey its biodiversity. The researchers focused on the “upper reaches” of the river, which had received “relatively less attention until recently,” according to a study published Sept. 3 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys.
During their daytime searches, researchers found several unfamiliar-looking lizards, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the animals, analyzed their DNA and realized they’d discovered a new species: Diploderma bifluviale, or the Dadu mountain lizard.
Dadu mountain lizards are considered “relatively small-sized,” reaching up to about 7 inches in length, the study said. They have “moderately long” limbs and “short” tails. Their “long” heads have a “wheat-colored tongue.”
Photos show the “dark khaki” coloring and spiny appearance of the new species. Darker brown blotches and cream-colored patches dot its back.
Dadu mountain lizards live in a mountainous river valley between elevations of 7,100 to 7,600 feet, the study said. The area is “characterized by long hours of sunlight, frequent clear days, distinct wet and dry seasons, and significant diurnal (daytime) temperature variations.”
The new species was found during the day “residing in arid shrublands with small leaves and scattered rock piles” and seen preying “on valley insects,” the study said. Researchers suspected these lizards are “rare and may constitute a very small population.”
Five female Dadu mountain lizards were found “to contain” between three and seven eggs, the study said.
Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin words for “two” and “rivers” because it was discovered near “the confluence” of Chuosijia River and Jiaomuzu River within the Dadu River system.
So far, Dadu mountain lizards have been found in the Dadu River valley in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, a region of central China, the study said.
The new species was identified by its overall size, body proportions, toe length, tongue coloring and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least about 4% genetic divergence from related species.
The research team included Fengjing Liu, Yayong Wu, Jindong Zhang, Guang Yang, Shuo Liu, Xue Chen, Jiang Chang, Qiang Xie and Bo Cai.
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 12:56 PM with the headline "‘Long’-armed creature with 7 eggs found on mountain in China. It’s a new species."
