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Heloderma
Heloderma is a genus of toxicoferan lizards that contains five species, all of which are venomous. It is the only extant genus of the family Helodermatidae.
The genus Heloderma contains the Gila monster (H. suspectum) and four species of beaded lizards. Their eyes are immobile and fixed in their heads. The Gila monster is a large, stocky, mostly slow-moving reptile that prefers arid deserts. Beaded lizards are seen to be more agile and seem to prefer more humid surroundings. The tails of all species of Heloderma are used as fat-storage organs. The scales of the head, back, and tail are bead-like, containing osteoderms for better protection. The scales of the belly are free from osteoderms. Most species are dark in color, with yellowish or pinkish markings.
The venom glands of Heloderma are located at the end of the lower jaws, unlike snakes' venom glands, which are located behind the eyes. Also, unlike snakes, the Gila monster and beaded lizards lack the musculature to inject venom immediately by high pressure mechanism. They have to chew the venom into the flesh of a victim. Heloderma venom is used only in defense. Venom glands are believed to have evolved early in the lineage leading to the modern helodermatids, as their presence is indicated even in the 65-million-year-old fossil genus Paraderma. In general, adult helodermatids have 15 to 20 mg of venom, while the lethal dose for humans is 5 to 8 mg of dryed venom.
Venom production among lizards was long thought to be unique to this genus, but researchers studying venom production have proposed many others also produce some venom, all placed in the clade Toxicofera, which includes all snakes and 13 other families of lizards. Like for snakes, envenomation by helodermatids are considered medically significant for humans.
Helodermatids are carnivorous, preying on rodents and other small mammals, and eating the eggs of birds and reptiles.
All species of Heloderma are oviparous. The Gila monster typically lays four to six eggs. The beaded lizards up to about 18 eggs. Comparing the different species, all eggs have a similar size, as are their hatchlings.
Family Helodermatidae
The four subspecies of beaded lizards were elevated to full species in 2013.
Heloderma
Heloderma is a genus of toxicoferan lizards that contains five species, all of which are venomous. It is the only extant genus of the family Helodermatidae.
The genus Heloderma contains the Gila monster (H. suspectum) and four species of beaded lizards. Their eyes are immobile and fixed in their heads. The Gila monster is a large, stocky, mostly slow-moving reptile that prefers arid deserts. Beaded lizards are seen to be more agile and seem to prefer more humid surroundings. The tails of all species of Heloderma are used as fat-storage organs. The scales of the head, back, and tail are bead-like, containing osteoderms for better protection. The scales of the belly are free from osteoderms. Most species are dark in color, with yellowish or pinkish markings.
The venom glands of Heloderma are located at the end of the lower jaws, unlike snakes' venom glands, which are located behind the eyes. Also, unlike snakes, the Gila monster and beaded lizards lack the musculature to inject venom immediately by high pressure mechanism. They have to chew the venom into the flesh of a victim. Heloderma venom is used only in defense. Venom glands are believed to have evolved early in the lineage leading to the modern helodermatids, as their presence is indicated even in the 65-million-year-old fossil genus Paraderma. In general, adult helodermatids have 15 to 20 mg of venom, while the lethal dose for humans is 5 to 8 mg of dryed venom.
Venom production among lizards was long thought to be unique to this genus, but researchers studying venom production have proposed many others also produce some venom, all placed in the clade Toxicofera, which includes all snakes and 13 other families of lizards. Like for snakes, envenomation by helodermatids are considered medically significant for humans.
Helodermatids are carnivorous, preying on rodents and other small mammals, and eating the eggs of birds and reptiles.
All species of Heloderma are oviparous. The Gila monster typically lays four to six eggs. The beaded lizards up to about 18 eggs. Comparing the different species, all eggs have a similar size, as are their hatchlings.
Family Helodermatidae
The four subspecies of beaded lizards were elevated to full species in 2013.
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