Heloderma species :
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum, /ˈhiːlə/ HEE-lə) is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. A heavy, typically slow-moving lizard, up to 60 cm (2.0 ft) long, the Gila monster is the only venomous lizard native to the United States and one of only two known species of venomous lizards in North America, the other being its close relative, the Mexican beaded lizard (H. horridum).[2] Though the Gila monster is venomous, its sluggish nature means it represents little threat to humans. However, it has earned a fearsome reputation and is sometimes killed despite being protected by state law in Arizona.[1][3]
Gila monster
Conservation status :
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Family:Helodermatidae
Genus:Heloderma
Species:H. suspectum
Binomial name :
Heloderma suspectum
Cope, 1869
Description, taxonomy and etymology :
In this species, the largest extant lizard native to North America north of the Mexican border (non-natives like green iguanas are larger), snout-to-vent length is from 26 to 36 cm (10 to 14 in). The tail is about 20% of the body size and the largest specimens may reach 51 to 56 cm (20 to 22 in) in total length. Body mass is typically in the range of 350 to 700 g (0.77 to 1.54 lb), with 11 males having been found to average 468 g (1.032 lb). Reportedly, the very heaviest, largest specimens can weigh as much as 2,300 g (5.1 lb).[4][5][6]
The Gila monster has one close living relative, the beaded lizard (H. horridum), as well as many extinct relatives in the Helodermatidae, the evolutionary history of which may be traced back to the Cretaceous period. The genus Heloderma has existed since the Miocene, when H. texana lived, and fragments of osteoderms from the Gila monster have been found in late Pleistocene (10,000–8,000 years ago) deposits near Las Vegas, Nevada. Because the helodermatids have remained relatively unchanged morphologically, they are occasionally regarded as living fossils.[7]
Although the Gila monster appears closely related to the monitor lizards (varanids) of Africa, Asia and Australia, their wide geographical separation and the unique features not found in the varanids indicate the Gila monster is better placed in a separate family.[8]
The name "Gila" refers to the Gila River Basin in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Arizona, where the Gila monster was once plentiful.[9] Heloderma means "studded skin", from the Ancient Greek words helos (ἧλος), "the head of a nail or stud", and derma (δέρμα), "skin". Suspectum comes from the describer, paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope, who suspected the lizard might be venomous due to the grooves in the teeth.[7]
Plate from the Century Cyclopediadepicts the Gila monster
Distribution and habitats :
The Gila monster is found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, a range including Sonora, Arizona, parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico (potentially including Baja California). They inhabit scrubland, succulent desert, and oak woodland, seeking shelter in burrows, thickets, and under rocks in locations with ready access to moisture.[10] In fact, Gila monsters seem to like water and can be observed immersing themselves in puddles of water after a summer rain.[11] They avoid living in open areas such as flats and farmland.[12]
Head with bead-like scales and strong forelegs and claws suitable for digging
Ecology :
Gila monsters spend 90% of their time underground in burrows or rocky shelters.[citation needed] They are active in the morning during the dry season (spring and early summer); later in the summer, they may be active on warm nights or after a thunderstorm. They maintain a surface body temperature of about 30 °C (86 °F).[13] Gila monsters are slow in sprinting ability, but they have relatively high endurance and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max) for a lizard.[14] They are preyed upon by coyotes and raptors.
Diet :
The Gila monster eats small birds, mammals, frogs, lizards, insects, and carrion.[15] The Gila monster feeds primarily on bird and reptile eggs, and eats infrequently (only five to ten times a year in the wild),[16] but when it does feed, it may eat up to one-third of its body mass.[4] It uses its extremely acute sense of smell to locate prey, especially eggs. Its sense of smell is so keen, it can locate and dig up chicken eggs buried 15 cm (6 in) deep and accurately follow a trail made by rolling an egg.[8]
Prey may be crushed to death if large or eaten alive if small, swallowed head-first, and helped down by muscular contractions and neck flexing. Unusually, after food has been swallowed, the Gila monster immediately resumes tongue flicking and search behavior, probably as a result of a history of finding clumped prey such as eggs and young in nests.[13]Gila monsters are able to climb trees and cacti in search of eggs.[17]
Venom :
Pioneer beliefs :
In the Old West, the pioneers believed a number of myths about the Gila monster, including that the lizard had foul or toxic breath and that its bite was fatal.[18] The Tombstone Epitaph of Tombstone, Arizona, wrote about a Gila monster that a local person caught on May 14, 1881:
- This is a monster, and no baby at that, it being probably the largest specimen ever captured in Arizona. It is 27 inches long and weighs 35 lb. It was caught by H. C. Hiatt on the road between Tombstone and Grand Central Mill and was purchased by Messrs. Ed Baker and Charles Eastman, who now have it on exhibition at Kelley's Wine House, next door above Grand Hotel, Allen Street. Eastern people who have never seen one of these monsters should not fail to inspect his Aztecship, for they might accidentally stumble upon one some fine day and get badly frightened, except they know what it is.
- I have never been called to attend a case of Gila monster bite, and I don't want to be. I think a man who is fool enough to get bitten by a Gila monster ought to die. The creature is so sluggish and slow of movement that the victim of its bite is compelled to help largely in order to get bitten.
— Dr. Ward, Arizona Graphic, September 23, 1899
On May 8, 1890, southeast of Tucson, Arizona Territory, Empire Ranch owner Walter Vail captured and thought he had killed a Gila monster. He tied it to his saddle and it bit the middle finger of his right hand and wouldn't let go. A ranch hand pried open the lizard's mouth with a pocketknife, cut open his finger to stimulate bleeding, and then tied saddle strings around his finger and wrist. They summoned Dr. John C. Handy of Tucson, who took Vail back to Tucson for treatment, but Vail experienced swollen and bleeding glands in his throat for sometime afterward.[18]
Dr. Handy's friend, Dr. George Goodfellow of Tombstone, was among the first to research the actual effects of Gila monster venom. Scientific American reported in 1890 that "The breath is very fetid, and its odor can be detected at some little distance from the lizard. It is supposed that this is one way in which the monster catches the insects and small animals which form a part of its food supply—the foul gas overcoming them." Goodfellow offered to pay local residents $5.00 for Gila monster specimens. He bought several and collected more on his own. In 1891 he purposefully provoked one of his captive lizards into biting him on his finger. The bite made him ill and he spent the next five days in bed, but he completely recovered. When Scientific American ran another ill-founded report on the lizard's ability to kill people, he wrote in reply and described his own studies and personal experience. He wrote that he knew several people who had been bitten by Gila monsters but had not died from the bite.[18]
Goodfellow published articles about rattlesnake and Gila monster bites in Scientific American and Southern California Practitioner.[19]
Delivery :
The Gila monster produces venom in modified salivary glands in its lower jaw, unlike snakes, whose venom is produced in the upper jaw.[15] The Gila monster lacks the musculature to forcibly inject the venom; instead, the venom is propelled from the gland to the tooth by chewing. Capillary action brings the venom out of the tooth and into the victim.[7] The teeth are loosely anchored, which allows them to be broken off and replaced throughout life. Gila monsters have been observed to flip over while biting the victim, presumably to aid the flow of the venom into the wound. Because the Gila monster's prey consists mainly of eggs, small animals, and otherwise "helpless" prey, the Gila monster's venom is thought to have evolved for defensive rather than for hunting use. A defensive use would explain the Gila monster's bright warning coloration.[8]
Toxicity :
Although the venom is a neurotoxin as toxic as that of a coral snake, H. suspectum produces only small amounts.[12] The Gila monster's bite is not fatal to healthy adult humans.[18] No reports of fatalities have been confirmed after 1939, and those recorded prior to that year are possibly iatrogenic, or resulting from attempts to treat the bite itself.[citation needed] The Gila monster can bite quickly (especially by swinging its head sideways) and hold on tenaciously and painfully.[13] If bitten, the victim may need to fully submerge the attacking lizard in water to break free from its bite. Symptoms of the bite include excruciating pain, edema, and weakness associated with a rapid drop in blood pressure.
A reticulated Gila monster (H. s. suspectum)
More than a dozen peptides and other substances have been isolated from the Gila monster's venom, including hyaluronidase, serotonin, phospholipase A2, and several kallikrein-like glycoproteins responsible for the pain and edema caused by a bite. Four potentially lethal toxins have been isolated from the Gila monster's venom, including horridum venom, which causes hemorrhage in internal organs and exophthalmos (bulging of the eyes),[20] and helothermine, which causes lethargy, partial paralysis of the limbs, and hypothermia in rats. Most are similar in form to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which relaxes smooth muscle and regulates water and electrolyte secretion between the small and large intestines. These bioactive peptides are able to bind to VIP receptors in many different human tissues. One of these, helodermin, has been shown to inhibit the growth of lung cancer.[7][21][22]
The constituents of the lizard's venom that have received the most attention from researchers are the bioactive peptides, including helodermin, helospectin, exendin-3, and exendin-4.[23] Exendin-4 has formed the basis of a class of medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, known as Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists. Exenatide was the first product in the class to reach the market and was launched in 2005.
Drug research :
In 2005, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the drug exenatide (marketed as Byetta) for the management of type 2 diabetes. It is a synthetic version of a protein, exendin-4, derived from the Gila monster's saliva.[24] In a three-year study with people with type 2 diabetes, exenatide led to healthy sustained glucose levels and progressive weight loss. The effectiveness is because the lizard protein is about 50% identical to glucagon-like peptide-1 analog (GLP-1), a hormone released from the human digestive tract that helps to regulate insulin and glucagon. The lizard protein remains effective much longer than the human hormone, helping diabetics keep their blood sugar levels under control. Exenatide slows the emptying of the stomach and causes a decrease in appetite, contributing to weight loss.[25] The saliva of the Gila monster contains many chemicals which can be deadly. One of these has been shown to affect memory. Several companies have been researching the abilities of this chemical to help memory loss due to various diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and ADHD. Gilatide, derived from exendin-4, has been shown to dramatically heighten memory in a study with mice. Gilatide is likely to be researched further to provide help to Alzheimer’s patients.
Life history :
The Gila monster emerges from hibernation in January or February and mates in May and June.[15] The male initiates courtship by flicking his tongue to search for the female's scent. If the female rejects his advances, she will bite him and crawl away. When successful, copulationhas been observed to last from 15 minutes to as long as two and a half hours. The female lays eggs in July or August, burying them in sand 5 in (13 cm) below the surface. The clutch consists of two to 12 eggs: five is the average.[10] The incubation lasts nine months, as the hatchlings emerge during April through June the following year.[26] The hatchlings are about 16 cm (6.3 in) long and can bite and inject venom upon hatching. The juveniles typically have larger bands of pink scales than adults, although the banded Gila monster (H. s. cinctum) has a tendency to retain the band pattern. H. suspectum sexually matures at three to five years old. After egg-laying, adult Gila monsters gradually spend less time on the surface to avoid the hottest part of the summer (although they may be active in the evening), eventually starting their hibernation around November.[8]
Gila monster at the Bristol Zoo
Little is known about the social behavior of H. suspectum, but they have been observed engaging in male-male combat, in which the dominant male lies on top of the subordinate one and pins it with its front and hind limbs. Both lizards arch their bodies, pushing against each other and twisting around in an effort to gain the dominant position. A wrestling match ends when the pressure exerted forces them to separate, although bouts may be repeated one after the other. These bouts are typically observed just before the mating season. Those with greater strength and endurance are thought to win more often and enjoy greater reproductive success.[27] Although the Gila monster has a low metabolism and one of the lowest lizard sprint speeds, it has one of the highest aerobic scope values (the increase in oxygen consumption from rest to maximum metabolic exertion) among lizards, allowing them to engage in intense aerobic activity for a sustained period of time. Males have been observed to have higher aerobic scopes than females, presumably because of sexual selection for a trait advantageous in prolonged combat.[14] The Gila monster may live up to 20 years in the wild, or 30 in captivity.[28]
Conservation status :
Urban sprawl and habitat destruction have adversely affected Gila monster numbers. In 1952, they became the first venomous animal to be given legal protection.[11][29][30] Gila monsters are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.[1] In 1963, the San Diego Zoo became the first zoo to successfully breed Gila monsters in captivity.[28]
Relationship with humans :
Though the Gila monster is venomous, its laggard movement means it poses little threat to humans. However, it has earned a fearsome reputation and is often killed by humans because of fear. Among Native American tribes, the Gila monster had a mixed standing. The Apache believed its breath could kill a man, and the Tohono O'Odham and the Pimabelieved it possessed a spiritual power that could cause sickness. In contrast, the Seri and the Yaqui believed the Gila monster's hide had healing properties.[12] The Gila monster has even starred as a monster in a B movie, The Giant Gila Monster (though the titular monster was actually portrayed by a Mexican beaded lizard).[31] It played a minor role in the motion picture The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Myths about the animal include that the animal's breath is toxic enough to kill humans, that it can spit venom and that it can leap several feet in the air to attack.[28] Another myth held that the Gila monster did not have an anus and therefore expelled waste from its mouth, the source of its venom and "fetid breath".[13] The official mascot of Eastern Arizona College located in Thatcher, Arizona, is Gila Hank, a gun-toting, cowboy-hat-wearing Gila monster. A similar character as an old western outlaw was seen in 2011 animated film Rango, called Bad Bill; the character was voiced by Ray Winstone.[32]
Gallery :
Gila Monster - Heloderma suspectum
Video :
Banded Gila Monsters, Heloderma Suspectum Cinctum
Illustration in Animaux venimeux et venins, 1922
Arizona Gila monster
Arizona Gila monster
For the external links , refrences click here to read the full wikipedia article
Care articles :
1- Gila Monster
Reticulated Gila Monster, Banded Gila Monster
Family: Helodermatidae
courtesy to : animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/lizards_venomous/GilaMonster
Heloderma suspectumPhoto © Animal-World:
Courtesy David Brough
The Gila Monster is a patriotic lizard, beautifully colored and the largest lizard native to the United States!
The amazing Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum is quite unique among the reptiles. These venomous lizards have stunning patterns to their scales. They have vibrantly colored designs in reds or yellows set on a black background. The color patterns vary in design depending on the specimen, the subspecies, and its age. Older lizards will develop a more pronounced pattern.
There are two subspecies, the nominate Reticulated Gila Monster Heloderma s. suspectum and the Banded Gila Monster Heloderma s. cinctum. The reticulate species is found primarily in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts and is mottled and blotched, like the one pictured above. The banded species is found primarily in the Mojave Desert, and it has broad double crossbands when mature.
The Gila Monster is one of two species of venomous lizards in the family Helodermatidae. Both Species are similar in appearance and habits, but Its venomous cousin, the Mexican Beaded Lizard Heloderma horridum, is slightly larger, darker, and less colorful.
The Helodermatidae have been two of the least understood and least studied of the lizard species. No other lizards have been have been so immersed in myth and mystery as these two. Possibly because of their rather secretive lifestyles, staying in burrows a good deal of the time, the fact that they are poisonous lizards, and being the sole survivors of an ancient group of lizards, the Monstersauria.
Gila monsters do not make good "pets". But for a serious herp enthusiast, their habits and environment requirements make them ideally suited for captivity and visual enjoyment. Despite their size, they don't require a lot of area for activity and they are relatively easy to keep. As a matter of fact, their tendency to be inactive can lead to obesity if their diet is not monitored.
Being venomous, the Gila Monster can be a bit tricky to handle. Both species of Heloderma are sluggish in habit, but they have a strong, tenacious bite...with a 'bulldog' attitude of not wanting to readily let go. But their eagerness to eat readily-available food items and their sheer beauty are more than enough to make any intermediate to experienced herp keeper fascinated.
For more information on keeping lizards see:
Reptile Care: Keeping Reptiles and Amphibians as Pets
CAUTION: These are
VENOMOUS LIZARDS
In many areas, these lizards may only be kept with a license.
The keeping of venomous reptiles is restricted and/or regulated in many localities. Check with your state and city authorities for requirements.
Scientific NameHeloderma suspectum
Subspecies:
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Reticulated Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum suspectum
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Banded Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum cinctum
Habitat: Distribution/Background :
The Gila Monster Heloderma suspectum was first described by Cope in 1869. Gila Monsters are venomous reptiles native to the United States and Mexico. They are found in the Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts; specifically in extreme southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, southeastern California, western Arizona and southwestern New Mexico into northern Mexico. They get their name from the Gila Basin in Arizona.
Scientific Classification
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Kingdom: Animalia
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Phylum: Chordata
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Class: Reptilia
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Order: Squamata
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Family: Helodermatidae
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Genus: Heloderma
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Species: suspectum
They are found in mountainous areas, but that still have a desert-like appearance. They live in dens that are often dug out by former inhabitants, or in lieu of that, dens they dig themselves.
The nominate Gila Monster subspecies Heloderma s. suspectum, also called the Reticulated Gila Monster, are found primarily in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. The Banded Gila Monster Heloderma s. cinctum, described by Bogert and Martin del Campo in 1956, found primarily in the Mojave Desert.
Status :
The Heloderma suspectum is on the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species as Near Threatened (NT). There has been habitat loss throughout much of its range.
Description :
Gila Monsters have long stout bodies with short wide spread legs, a swollen looking tail, and curved claws good for digging. They have a majestic head and a forked tongue, reminding one of a snake. Their beadlike skin has scales that are rounded and raised. The thick tail contains energy stores for the colder months, and unlike many of the lizard species, their tail will not separate from their body. Though generally rather sluggish looking, they are surprisingly athletic looking when in a hunting stance.
The Gila Monster has beautiful patterns to their scales. These lizards always have a black background, but their patterns can occur in red or yellow, depending upon the specimen.
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The reticulate species Heloderma s. suspectum, are mottled and blotched like the one pictured above.
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The banded species Heloderma s. cinctum, has broad double crossbands when they mature.
These are large lizards, with adults reaching about 21" to 22" (53 - 56 cm) in length and weighing about three to five pounds. Sexing in Gila Monsters is extremely difficult, though methods using ultra sounds have proven to be relatively accurate. There is little to no sure method of visually sexing them. They have a long life span, living for up to around 20 to 30 years of age.
The Gila Monster closely resembles the Mexican Beaded Lizard. The venom glands are in their lower jaws, and the venom leeches out from the glands and flows through the grooves in the teeth of the lower jaw and is delivered by a chewing motion. These lizards use venom primarily as a defensive weapon.
Food and Feeding :
Gila Monsters are very easy to feed and care for. They have a low metabolism and thus have a feeding schedule similar to that of a young snake. They are fond of many commercially available foods, such as mice and rats. Gila's will, unfortunately, eat just about anything placed in front of them. While eggs are a natural food source for these lizards in the wild, feeding of eggs in captivity can lead to obesity. Obesity is a large risk in Gila Monsters.
In the wild, their food supply for an entire year would be consumed in three to four months. Adult males and nonbreeding females can be fed about every two weeks. In preparation for the breeding season, females can be fed up to twice a week, as the conversion from fat to yolk takes the stored food from the tail to produce the eggs.
Water should be provided in a large, un-tippable bowl. Gila Monsters will spend quite a bit of time soaking in their water bowl so it needs to be large and stable enough to support them.
Housing :
Adult Gila monsters should be maintained with a minimum of 3 ½ square feet of floor space. As they spend most of their time in the wild in a den, they don't require a huge amount of space. The cage should be big enough to provide a good thermal gradient, a warm basking spot at one end of the enclosure to a cooler location at the opposing end.
Possible substrates include newspaper and wood shavings. Aspen shaving work well and are also affordable. These allow for spot cleaning, or cleaning where you see defecation. All of the bedding should be replaced periodically and any wet bedding needs to be removed immediately.
A den or hide should be provided for the Gila with enough room for them to move around inside. This can be built up using many of the lightweight reptile rocks, which will prevent harm to the animal if they fall. This should be provided at the cool end of the enclosure. To prevent any possible escape of these venomous lizards, a screen lid is highly recommended.
Temperature and Lighting requirements:
The temperature needs to be between 85 - 90{deg} F (29 - 32{deg} C) degrees under the basking light, measured from the substrate of the cage. The cool end of the cage needs to be in the low seventies, at the same level of measurement. A basking area can be as simple as an elevated rock and placed under the basking light.
Cage Care :
Cage maintenance is an important part of keeping reptiles healthy, and long-lived. Reptiles being kept in a confined area as pets need to be protected from harmful micro-organisms and parasites. The reptile cage needs daily and weekly maintenance.
Spot cleaning should be performed on a daily basis, or at least following meals. If they are allowed to soak for long periods of time every day in the water bowl, it will need daily cleaning. Any liquid spills should be cleaned up immediately, with the damp litter being removed.
Everything you put into their home should be washed and disinfected weekly. This includes dishes and cage decor. All of the substrate should be replaced every one to two months, depending on the age of the lizard, and how often its feedings are. Never clean with a phenol such as Pine Sol. Chlorine and alcohol based cleaners are tolerated much better, but need to be thoroughly rinsed.
Behavior :
In the wild, Gila Monsters have a solitary nature. They can be kept with success in groups, given enough room, but many keepers prefer to keep them in solitary enclosures to better replicate the natural environment. Some male competition for females has been noted in the wild, and in captivity the losing male cannot retreat.
Handling :
When you need to handle your Gila Monster, a thick pair of gloves should always be worn. No matter how experienced the handler is, or how tame the Gila is, they are still a venomous animal and a simple scare is all it could take to provoke a bite. Gila's should always be handled with great care and with a minimum of distractions. NOTE: If you are bitten by a Gila monster, seek medical attention immediately and call the Poison Control center if necessary.
Reproduction :
Gila's are very hard to sex, making captive breeding extremely difficult. A procedure has been developed using ultrasounds to sex the animals. This causes no internal harm to the animal and is relatively accurate.
In the wild, the male would scent out the female in the late spring. This translates to introducing the male and female to one another in the first week of April. Copulation is generally seen by the middle of April. Females can be rotated through the cage of a single male and bred more than once during the season to raise chances of fertile eggs. Copulation has been seen from lasting 15 minutes to two and a half hours.
Gravid females need to be kept separately. Keeping them with other Gila's can cause the female additional stress and result in destroyed or eaten eggs. Timing between mating and deposition of eggs (oviposition) is between 42 and 55 days. Gilas can lay between 2 and 31 eggs.
When the female starts to dig around the cage, she should be provided with a nest box. Sphagnum moss is a good substrate to use in the box where she lays her eggs. Vermiculite can be used as an incubation medium, keeping the temperature at about 79{deg} F (26{deg} C). Incubation temperature has been known to vary from 79 to 85{deg} F (26 - 29{deg} C), though temperatures above 85{deg} F (29{deg} C) degrees are believed to be a cause of failures to hatch. The eggs are relatively difficult to hatch, as they need high relative humidity but very low actual exposure to water. Incubation lasts around four and a half months.
Hatchlings should be allowed to exit the egg on their own; do not attempt to aid a hatchling! When left to their own devices, it can take up to four days for a baby Gila to leave its egg from the time they pop open the first hole. There is a good amount of yolk still in the egg and this is their first vital meal. After this, they may not eat for a few days to a week, but it is nothing to be concerned about. Pinkie mice are a good food to offer to the hatchlings.
Diseases: Ailments/Treatments:
The biggest problem with Gila monsters is obesity, due to their extremely low metabolism. Young Gila monsters will grow rather quickly, but upon reaching maturity, they will often eat to the point of obesity. Take good care to only feed as much as is necessary.
Availability :
Gila Monsters can be purchased for a variety of prices, depending upon the pattern you are looking for. Banded Gila Monsters go for about $1,600 – $2,000, while Reticulated Gila Monsters go for $1,200.
Note: Before attempting to find a breeder or other source for your Gila monster, you need to check the laws of both your state and your city. For example, in Colorado, there are no laws saying that you must have a permit to own a Gila monster, however, in Colorado Springs, it is illegal to own a Gila monster without a permit. This could be due to its good tourist trade and the risks of a poisonous lizard rampaging around the city. Still, it would be best to check the regulations in your area.
1- The Gila monster (Heloderma h. suspectum ) :
Beaded Lizard - Heloderma genus: Introduction General care & further reading :
Heloderma species : 1- The Gila monster (Heloderma h. suspectum ) : Part 1 .. Part 2
2- The Guatemalan beaded lizard (Heloderma h.charlesbogerti)
3- The Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma h. horridum)
4- The Rio Fuerte beaded lizard (Heloderma h.exasperatum )
5- The Chiapan beaded lizard ( Heloderma horridum alverezi )
Beaded Lizard - Heloderma genus: Introduction General care & further reading :
Heloderma species : 1- The Gila monster (Heloderma h. suspectum ) : Part 1 .. Part 2
2- The Guatemalan beaded lizard (Heloderma h.charlesbogerti)
3- The Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma h. horridum)
4- The Rio Fuerte beaded lizard (Heloderma h.exasperatum )
5- The Chiapan beaded lizard ( Heloderma horridum alverezi )