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Heloderma horridum
Sign in to saveAlso known as Beaded lizard, Mexican beaded lizard
North American species of lizard
OverviewAI-generated
*Heloderma horridum* is a species within the family Helodermatidae, classified under the class Squamata and phylum Chordata. Common names for this taxon include Escorpión, Lagarto de Cuentas, Héloderme granuleux, and Héloderme horrible. In captivity, the maximum recorded longevity for this species is 34.4 years.
The IUCN Red List assessed the conservation status of *Heloderma horridum* as Least Concern in 2014. Biological records for the species have been documented in Mexico, the United States, and Guatemala. These records are held by institutions such as IBUNAM, MSUM, LACM, MADUG-UG, and RBINS-SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE, with a total of 1,170 occurrences noted in global databases.
Synthesized by Vinony from 24 facts across 7 sources: Wikidata, GBIF, Gbif Occ, IUCN Red List, Encyclopedia of Life, iDigBio, Vinony graph. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.
Species
Least ConcernSPECIES
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyHelodermatidae
Maximum longevity: 34.4 years (captivity)
via GBIF · IUCN
Museum specimens
- Specimen records
- 340
- With media
- 20
- Family
- Helodermatidae
- Collections
- IBUNAM, MSUM, LACM, MADUG-UG, RBINS-SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE, MVZ
- Recorded in
- Mexico, United States, Guatemala
Wikidata facts
Show 6 more facts
- taxon rank
- species
- IUCN conservation status
- Least Concern
- taxon name
- Heloderma horridum
- Commons category
- Heloderma horridum
- Commons gallery
- Heloderma horridum
- taxon common name
- pisani bradavičar
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
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Encyclopedic overview
The Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) or beaded lizard is a species of venomous lizard in the family Helodermatidae, one of the two species of venomous beaded lizards found principally in Mexico and southern Guatemala. It and the other members of the same genus, including 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 feeds primarily upon eggs, the primary use of its venom is still a source of debate among scientists. This venom has been found to contain several enzymes useful for manufacturing drugs in the treatment of diabetes, and research on the pharmacological use of its venom is ongoing.
Threatened throughout its range by overcollection and habitat loss, it is a CITES protected species. The Guatemalan beaded lizard (H. charlesbogerti) is one of the rarest lizards in the world, with a wild population of fewer than 200.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Heloderma horridum” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.