First detailed description of male-male combat in the genus Dopasia Gray, 1875 (Reptilia: Anguidae)

The genus Dopasia (Anguidae), native to Southeast Asia, remains poorly studied due to its elusive and secretive lifestyle; therefore, any information on its ecology and behaviour is particularly valuable. Here we present the first detailed observations of male-male combat in the genus, specifically documented in Dopasia harti (Boulenger, 1899) from Taiwan, based on unique photographic and video evidence. While male-male combat is well documented across various squamates, records from the family Anguidae are scarce and virtually absent for Dopasia. We therefore compare the ritualized behaviours observed in D. harti with those previously described in Anguis and Pseudopus. Finally, our study highlights the role of citizen science platforms in advancing field observations, biodiversity documentation, and herpetological knowledge.