Mexican beaded lizard
A species of Beaded lizards, Also known as Guatemalan beaded lizard Scientific name : Heloderma horridum Genus : Beaded lizards
Mexican beaded lizard, A species of Beaded lizards
Also known as:
Guatemalan beaded lizard
Scientific name: Heloderma horridum
Genus: Beaded lizards
Content
Description General Info
Photo By francisco3_ , used under CC-BY-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) is the most famous of the four species of venomous beaded lizards found principally in Mexico and southern Guatemala. They and their congener (member of the same genus) the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) are the only lizards known to have evolved an overt venom delivery system. The Mexican beaded lizard is larger than the Gila monster, with duller coloration, black with yellowish bands. As it is a specialized predator that...
General Info
Lifespan
20-30 years
Diet
Mexican beaded lizard's dietary habits primarily encompass small mammals, illustrating its carnivorous nature. While it significantly favors rodents and rabbits, it also ingests small birds and eggs when available, demonstrating dietary diversity.
Appearance
Mexican beaded lizard is a moderately sized reptile with a robust, cylindrical body, covered in rough, bumpy scales. Its skin exhibits a striking black and yellowish-brown pattern. Its tail is thick, often used for storing fat, and has a similar colouration pattern. Mexican beaded lizard is distinctive for its bead-like skin texture and venomous bite, but lacks prominent differentiation based on age, gender, or subspecies.
Behavior
Mexican beaded lizard is a solitary, predominantly diurnal creature. Notably, it is one of the few venomous lizards, using venom for predation rather than defense. It has a slow, deliberate movement, consuming a wide range of prey including insects, small birds, and mammals. Mexican beaded lizard uses burrows for rest and thermoregulation, often occupying abandoned rodent burrows. Territorial disputes, rare due to its solitary nature, involve physical threats and posturing but rarely actual combat.
Population
Decreasing
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Lizards and snakes Family
Beaded lizards Genus
Beaded lizards Species
Mexican beaded lizard 
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