Mexican Beaded Lizard
1972981
225373206
2008-07-13T10:05:56Z
Nsaa
113357
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/198.36.32.134|198.36.32.134]] to last version by ClueBot (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
{{Taxobox
| name = Mexican beaded lizard
| status = VU
| status_system = iucn2.3
| image = BeadedLizard-AHPExotics.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]]
| ordo = [[Squamata]]
| familia = [[Helodermatidae]]
| genus = '''''[[Heloderma]]'''''
| species = '''''H. horridum'''''
| binomial = ''Heloderma horridum''
| binomial_authority = [[Arend Friedrich August Wiegmann|Wiegmann]], 1829
}}
The '''Beaded Lizard''' or '''Mexican Beaded Lizard''' ('''''Heloderma horridum''''') is found in [[Guatemala]] and [[Mexico]]. Along with its close cousin, the [[Gila Monster]] (''Heloderma suspectum''), it is known as one of the two [[venomous]] lizards in the world.<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8331 Lizards' poisonous secret is revealed] - NewScientist. Accessed [[February 27]]-[[2008]]</ref> Their venom is similar to that of some snakes (e.g., the [[Western diamondback rattlesnake]]). It has a number of [[subspecies]], including ''H. h. exasperatum'', ''H. h. alvarezi'', and ''H. h. horridum''.
Adult Beaded Lizards range from 30 to 36 inches (76 to 91 cm) in length. It is substantially larger than its relative, the Gila Monster, which only reaches lengths of 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm). Sometimes the two species are confused, but the size of the Beaded Lizard is an easy way to determine the species.
In late 2005, [[University of Melbourne]] researchers discovered that [[Komodo Dragon]]s (''Varanus komodoensis''), [[Perentie]]s (''V. giganteus''), various other [[Monitor lizards]], and [[Iguania]]ns such as ''[[Pogona barbata]]'' may also be somewhat [[venomous]]. Previously, it had been thought that bites inflicted by these lizards were simply prone to infection because of bacteria in the lizards' mouths, but these researchers have shown that the immediate effects (at least in the Komodo Dragon, [[Varanus timorensis|Spotted Tree Monitor]], and the [[Lace Monitor]]) are caused by mild envenomation.<ref>Fry, Brian G., et al. (2006). "Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes." ''Nature''. Letters. Vol. 439/2 February 2006, pp. 584-588. Pdf file available for download at: [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=%22Early%20evolution%20of%20the%20venom%20system%20in%20lizards%20and%20snakes%22%20Letters%20Nature%2010.1038&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=ws]</ref>
{{commons|Heloderma horridum}}
<gallery widths="400px" heights="200px">
Image:Heloderma horridum pair (Buffalo Zoo).jpg|A pair of Mexican beaded lizards. The one on the right is in the process of shedding its skin.
</gallery>
==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}
==References==
*{{IUCN2006|assessors=Beaman|year=1996|id=9864|title=Heloderma horridum|downloaded=11 May 2006}} Listed as Vulnerable (VU A2cd v2.3)
*{{cite book | author=Berkow, Robert, Ed.| title=The Merck Manual, 16th Ed.| publisher=Merck Research Laboratories| year=1992 | id=ISBN 0-911910-16-6}}
*Angeli, Steve http://www.helodermahorridum.com/beaded_lizard.php
[[Category:Helodermas]]
[[Category:Fauna of Mexico]]
[[Category:Venomous animals]]
{{lizard-stub}}
[[ca:Heloderma horridum]]
[[de:Skorpion-Krustenechse]]
[[es:Heloderma horridum]]
[[fr:Lézard perlé]]
[[nl:Mexicaanse korsthagedis]]
[[ja:メキシコドクトカゲ]]
[[fi:Skorpionilisko]]