Beaded Lizard

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Beaded lizard PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: NATIVE HABITAT: • Their base color is black and marked with • Beaded lizards are found in a variety of varying amounts of yellow spots or bands, with habitats in Mexico and Guatemala. the exception of “H. alvarezi” which are all • They are most often found in tropical black in color! deciduous forest, but are also found in thorn • The beaded lizards have short tails which are forests, tropical scrubland and pine-oak forest. used to store fat so they can survive during months of estivation (hibernation that occurs DIET: in summer). • They feed primarily on reptile and bird eggs! • They have forked, pink tongues which they use to smell, with the help of a Jacobson’s organ. • They are semi-arboreal, and will climb trees to get into the nests of other animals. • The “beads” all over their body are called osteoderms, and can be seen on their skeleton! • They occasionally prey upon small birds, mammals, frogs, lizards, and insects. • SIZE AND LIFESPAN: • Adult beaded lizards range from 22inch to REPRODUCTION: 36inch in length. • The beaded lizard becomes sexually mature • Their average weight is around 4lbs! at six to eight years and mates between September and October. • Although males are slightly larger than females, the beaded lizards are not sexually • The female lays her clutch of two to 30 eggs dimorphic. between October and December, the clutch hatching the following June or July. • They have a long life span, living 30 years typically but can possibly live to 50 plus years!! • Young lizards are seldom seen. They are believed to spend much of their early lives underground, emerging at two to three years of age after gaining considerable size!! FUN FACTS: • The venom glands of the beaded lizard are modified salivary glands located in the reptile’s lower jaw. • When biting, the beaded lizard hangs on its victim and chews to get its venomous saliva into the wound! • The Mexican beaded lizard and its close relative, the Gila monster are the only two venomous lizards in the world!!.

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