Professional Documents
Culture Documents
These guidelines cover Beaded Lizards in general and the subspecies, H. h. horridum and H.
h. exasperatum in particular, as these are the only subspecies kept in European zoos.
Acknowledgments
Thank you very much to Henrik Herold for commenting our first draft, your pictures and
sharing your knowledge of these magnificent creatures.
Thanks to Matthias Goetz for the handling picture and for reading and commenting our first
draft.
Thank you Kristian Sørensen and the poor bite victim for supplying the pictures of a bite.
Thank you to Beth Fledelius Forrai and Rune Midtgaard for all your help and information.
Thanks to Samuel Furrer for reading and commenting our first draft and for the additional
references suggestions.
2
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments 2
1. General Description 4
1.1 Taxonomy 4
1.2 Short history 4
1.3 Morphology 4
1.4 Maximum life span 4
1.5 Subspecies 5
1.6 Field data 5
1.7 Population status 5
2. Behaviour 6
2.1 Activity 6
2.2 Locomotion 6
2.3 Predation 7
2.4 Social behaviour 7
2.5 Feeding behaviour 7
3. Health 8
3.1 Parasites and diseases 8
3.2 Egg binding 8
3.3 Follicular stasis 8
4. Enclosures 9
4.1 Substrate 9
4.2 Furnishing 9
4.3 Dimension 9
4.4 Temperature, humidity and lighting 9
5. Social structure 11
7. Reproduction 12
7.1 Sexing techniques 12
7.2 Sexual maturity 12
7.3 Breeding season 12
7.4 Reproductive manipulation 12
7.5 Mating 12
7.6 Pregnancy detection 13
7.7 Gravid females 13
7.8 Eggs, clutch size 13
7.9 Hatching 13
7.10 Enclosure and diet of hatchlings 13
7.11 Incubation 14
9. Venom 17
9.1 The venom system 17
9.2 First Aid If bitten 17
3
11. Bibliographies 20
1. General description
1.1 Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Helodermatidae
Genus: Heloderma
Species: Heloderma horridum
1.3 Morphology
An adult male Beaded Lizard can easily weigh 2-2,5 kilograms and have a total
length around 80-90 centimetres. Females are usually smaller than males with a total
length round the 80 centimetres and a weight of 1,5-2,2 kilograms.
Specimens more than a meter in length have been known to exist
The skin of a Beaded Lizards is black with yellowish-white areas but the head is
black. Legs are dark and the tail is ringed with dark and yellow bands. Beaded lizards
have a pink forked tongue. The skin of the lizard consist of osteoderms, beads which
contain a piece of bone which gives H. horridum a kind of an armour plated skin.
The beaded lizard has a very robust skull architecture, large jaw muscles and venom
glands in the lower jaw. Relatively
small eyes with moveable eyelids.
Curved teeth, some with venom
conducting grooves (posterior and
anterior).
The limbs of the lizard are
relatively short and have four toes
with curved claws. Fat is stored in
the tail. The Beaded Lizard has
two pairs of infralabials (enlarged
chin shields) and no enlarged
preanal scales. Heloderma
suspectum has only one pair of
infralabials and two enlarged
preanal scales.
4
1.5 Subspecies
The four recognized subspecies are:
H. h. horridum (Mexican Beaded Lizard)
H. h. exasperatum (Rio Grijalva or Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizard)
H. h. charlesbogerti (Rio Montagua Beaded Lizard)
H. h. alvarezi (Black Beaded lizard, Chiapan Beaded Lizard)
Becks book has some real nice pictures of the different subspecies.
The Beaded Lizard is found along the Pacific drainages from southern Sonora to
Chiapas and south-eastern Guatemala. It is also found in two Atlantic drainages from
central Chiapas, Mexico and also found in extreme south-eastern Guatemala.
H.h. horridum: the Pacific drainages of Mexico.
H.h. exasperatum: southern Sonora and northern Sinaloa
H.h. charlesbogerti: Rio Montagua Valley and eastern Guatemala.
H.h. alvarezi: Rio Grijalva depression of central Chiapas, Mexico and extreme
western Guatemala.
Guatemala listed the H.h. charlesbogerti on the Guatemalan Lista Roja (Red list) as
threatened. This supspecies are now concidred on the edge of extinction.
5
2. Behaviour
2.1 Activity
Mostly active during the daytime but from time to time they are also active during the
night after summer rains.
The lizards usually have two active peaks a day, one in the morning and one in the
afternoon. In the rainy seasons these peaks will be earlier in the morning and later in
the afternoon. The seasonality of their natural habitat has a big effect on the time and
the amount of activity. The lizards are probably more active during the rainy season
(July) and very little (but mostly not at all) in the winter.
Even when they are active, Beaded Lizards spend only about one hour a day out of
its den.
2.2 Locomotion
Beaded lizards appear to be very slow but be careful, their attack
can be very fast.
The Beaded Lizard can’t run very fast. Beaded Lizards may climb
5-7 metre high in a tree, thanks to their sharp claws and semi
prehensile tail. They move slowly and deliberately, while they carefully
investigate their environment with their forked tongues.
They are also very good diggers.
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2.3 Predation
There have not been observations of natural predation on the Beaded Lizard.
Snakes, coyote, foxes, owls, hawks and eagles could potentially be predating the
Beaded Lizards.
7
3. Health
3.1 Parasites and diseases
Little is known about parasites and diseases in wild Beaded lizards. In captivity they
appear surprisingly resistant to sickness and disease.
Urate deposits, have been known to happen, and can lead to gout, in the pericardium.
internal helminth parasites and ecto parasites, are seen, but mostly in wild
specimens.
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4. Enclosures
4.1 Substrate
Many different kinds of substrates can be used in the enclosure, quarts sand, bark
chips, newspaper or other naturalistic substrate. Most keep off exhibit Heloderms on
a woodchip substrate. It is important to supply the right humidity levels, which can de
done through a plastic hide box filled with a moist bedding.
4.2 Furnishing
A Beaded Lizards needs a shelter in its enclosure. In nature a shelter is used for
escaping high temperatures and predators. For creating a nice enclosure you can use
rocks to create rocky slopes and boulders. These also give the animals an
opportunity to climb and trim their claws. Rocks can also be used for holding the
dishes for food and water, but these can also be put on the sand. Beaded Lizards are
very good diggers, so make sure there won’t be any rocks which can fall on the lizard
while it’s digging. All sorts of plants can be used, but then again, the lizard likes to dig
so make sure the plant are big enough so it won’t get destroyed.
4.3 Dimension
Beaded Lizards like large enclosures especially if you want to keep a large group of
animals. The absolute minimum recommended seize of the enclosure can be
calculated as;
For each extra individual in the enclosure double the results you got from the above.
Example;
If your largest animal is 40 cm, your enclosure should at least be 120 x 60 x 40 cm.
For three specimens the enclosure should be at least 360 x 180 x 120 cm.
This is an absolute minimum and most zoos would only use this size for short term off
exhibit holding.
9
The Beaded Lizards natural habitat is the dry forest, in captivity there is no need for
humidity regulation as long as the mean humidity is around 60%.
To maintain a comfortable temperature in the enclosure it is a good guideline to have
one heating spot for each animal to avoid lower ranking animals getting no heat.
UV light may be important for a diurnal animal and is appreciated by the species,
especially by pregnant female, however good results without offering UV light are
known.
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5. Social structure
In captivity the Beaded Lizard can be kept in pairs, alone and in groups. Be careful
not to keep more that one male in the group, unless you have an extremely large
enclosure.
Sometimes when you are keeping a group of lizards in one enclosure everything goes
perfect and sometimes problems occur. It is recommended not to put males together
after their hibernation, this is the breeding season and there could be a lot of male to
male combat.
No data on mixed exhibits have been found, and is generally not recommended.
In the wild a Beaded Lizard eats: juvenile mammals, birds, reptiles and eggs. In
captivity eggs can be offered, but with the risk of salmonella infection.
IT is Recommended is to feed rats and mice of appropriate size. Adult lizards can be
fed, 1 small rat or 2 mice, every second week. Younger lizards can get fed every 4 to
5 days one or two small mice. Females who just laid eggs can get fed every week 3 to
4 mice or small rats. This might seem a lot but females can lose about a quarter of
their body weight after they have laid their eggs.
Beaded Lizards will almost always eat, so be careful they won’t get to obese. Some
institutions use extra vitamins, some do not and have good results as well.
If a Beaded Lizard does not want to eat, feed it mice with a split head. The brain scent
works well.
It is recommended to feed the Beaded Lizards with a pair of tongs. When you are
feeding animals in a group, make sure the animals aren’t to close to each other to
prevent fights.
There has to be a dish with clean water at all times. If possible the Beaded Lizard
might want to bathe in the water. The water needs to be changed every day.
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7. Reproduction
7.1 Sexing techniques
Beaded Lizards are very difficult to sex. Females tend to have a pear shaped body
where as males are overall slim. Males have a wider tail base and a hemipenal bulge
can be seen. Females have a longer neck and the head is not as wide as in males.
During the breeding season males are very aggressive to other males which is a very
good indicator. A reliable technique is ultrasound examination, to observe the
presence of either the hemipenis and testes or the ovaries with the follicles in it. This
method will show the right result every time of year but from fall until spring the
follicles are larger and easier to see. It must be used on the ventral surface of the tail,
just above of the cloacae. With young animals ultrasound examination is more difficult
because of a bone plate blocking the view of the upper cloacae region, this makes it
difficult to find the hemipenis. Zurich Zoo has had good results by using endoscopy,
but anaesthetics must be used.
7.5 Mating
A reproduction cycle is finished every year,
but in the wild it is more common for Beaded
Lizards to mate once in two years. In some
years the females do not have enough
energy to produce eggs.
When the lizards are eating normally again
after hibernation they can put together for
mating. Some breeders use only the
strongest males for mating. The bigger the
female, the more eggs she can carry.
After introducing the male and female courtship will usually take place in the first 15
minutes. Before making contact, the female will try to flee for several minutes. When
the male can get to the female, he will climb on top of her and start with rubbing and
stroking the female’s head with his chin. The female might try to flee again, carrying
the male on top of her. The male will try to shift his tail under the female so their
cloacae can get together. If he fails he will rub her head some more. When the female
admits she will respond by raising her tail, the male will be leaning on one of his rear
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feet while he uses his other leg to hold the female. As soon as the copulation starts
the male will hold on to the female as firmly as possible. During mating the male might
gently bite his partner in her neck and flick with his tongue. Within the hour the first
copulation usually take place. The first attempt of copulation sometimes fails. When
copulation is successful this can be noticed by a wet region round the females
cloacae. The first days the male will stay with the female and it is possible they will
mate some more. After a week a new female can be put with the male and it will all
start again.
7.9 Hatching
In the wild: The young ones hatch in July the year after the eggs are laid. From the
end of July until the beginning of September the eggs will start to hatch.
Beaded Lizards use an egg tooth to open the shells of eggs. It has also been
suggested they use their claws to break the shells.
Hatchling can weigh about 36-43 grams. Hatchlings can have a total length of 19-23
centimetres and a snout-vent length of 12,4-14,7 centimetres. If the eggs did not
hatch and the eggs were fertile there must be something wrong with the incubation
technique.
13
be afraid and open their mouth, not because they want to grab the mouse, still the
mice can be dropped into their mouth. When the young once get older the fear goes
away, just put the dead mouse with the lizard in the enclosure, unless there are more
hatchlings in the enclosure. Of course patience is very important. Force feeding
should be the last attempt only. The dishes with water should not be too big to
prevent the hatchlings from drowning.
7.11 Incubation
There are three important factors for incubating developing beaded eggs. These are
temperature, moisture and oxygen tense. Suggested is to have a temperature of 26-
29,5°C (80-85F) for the eggs. It has also been suggested that the temperature should
not be higher than 29,5°C, because this will result in failure.
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temperature of 25-26,6°C (77-80F) and never higher than 26.6°C for his Gila
Monster eggs.
Beaded lizard eggs do good in an environment with a high humidity but little moisture
contact.
Many breeders use vermiculite as incubation medium, but other substrates can also
be used. Suggested is to have a water-vermiculite ratio of 1:1 to 1:4 by weight. To
retain the right water-vermiculite ratio water has to be filled in during the incubation
process. The water needs to have the right temperature and should not be filled in
with the substrate but the eggs should be taken out so the water can be mixed with
the substrate. This is also to prevent a temperature shock for the embryos. This is a
successful technique but it also has it’s disadvantages, it is difficult to maintain stable
conditions.
Dr. Mark Seward has invented what he thinks, and what is now generally considered,
the best technique for incubating his Gila Monster eggs. This technique is called the
Hygroscopic Incubation Technique and is also successfully used by Beaded Lizard
breeders. This technique makes it easy to manage the three important factors for
incubating reptile eggs. For this technique a good incubator that has no problems with
maintaining the right temperature is needed. The temperature of the environment of
the incubator should be lower than the temperature in the incubator.
The Hygroscopic Egg Chamber is what makes the technique so very easy. This
Hygroscopic Egg Camber is as following:
14
A plastic box/container with the measurements of around 30 x 18 x 10 centimetres
with a lid. The box has four ventilation holes, one in each corner for the necessary
ventilation for the developing embryos. The holes should have a size of about 0.3
centimetres. A lit is placed on the container. The container has a layer of 2,5
centimetres of perlite or vermiculite. Some institutions use perlite some use
vermiculite. This perlite works as a reservoir for water which is needed for the right
humidity. Because of the porous perlite granules the surface is bigger so more water
can evaporate. This layer of 2.5 centimetres is sufficient for the whole incubation
period.
The water level in the container should be below the 2,5 centimetres perlite. The
water will wick up to the surface of the perlite and will evaporate. As long as the water
level is visible the water does not have to be refilled. But because of the ventilation
the water will disappear from this container and refilling is necessary. Make sure the
water is the right temperature.
In this container a smaller plastic box is placed.
This box has no lid and should have a maximum
height of 5 centimetres because it should not
reach to the lid of the other box. This smaller box
has a layer of polyester batting which supports
the eggs. When using this batting the air can
circulate completely around the egg.
For a good circulation the small box should not
be placed directly on the perlite layer in the big
box. Therefore small supports of any kind of
material can be used.
It might be possible that some condensation of
water will occur on the lit of the big container.
There is nothing to worry about if the water does
not drip on the eggs. But if it does drip on the
eggs it is possible to put something over the
eggs. Something with ventilation holes.
The humidity in the main chamber of the
incubator should be 90%. For an oxygen
circulation in the incubator there should be
ventilation holes in the incubator.
If some eggs in the incubator start to dent there is nothing to worry about but when
the eggs start to collapse significantly before the end of the incubating period the
humidity in the incubator is to low. But a few weeks before hatching it is not
uncommon.
When eggs are placed in an incubator, the temperature must be 28,5 degrees. The
eggs will then hatch in 163-205 days.
15
8 Handling and transport
8.1 Handling
The Beaded Lizard is not very venomous, a bite is not deadly but it is very painful.
When handling a Beaded Lizard you can use thick gloves or not, this is your own
choice. The teeth of the lizards can’t get through the gloves. You can use a handling
hook which you can put on the neck of the animal to make sure you have control of it.
Then you can grab the neck, lose the hook and with your other hand you can reach
out the grab the back of the body to support it.
8.2 Transport
Transport in air:
Please refer to IATA-standards, these standards can change continuously.
Other transport:
The lizard can be transported in a bag or a box or both. In the box there should be
newspapers or other material to prevent the animal from sliding around in the box.
The size of the box depends on the size of the animal. The box must have the
appropriate size to fit the animal and the other material.
16
9. Venom
1. Remove the beaded Lizard as quickly as possible. The longer the lizard has the
chance to bite, the more venom it is able to put into the wound and the more likely the
bite is producing serious symptoms. In mild bites, where only a fold of skin is bitten, it
may be possible to simply hold the lizard behind the jaws and carefully pull it away; in
cases where the jaws are more firmly attached, it may be necessary to put the lizard
under water. A thin, flat lever inserted between the lower jaw and the flesh and turned
90 degrees may also work to quickly release the jaws.
2. Immediately remove any rings, bracelets, or other jewellery. These things may
cause complications as oedema (swelling) develops.
3. The bitten part should be held still; a light bandage and mild pressure can be
applied to control any bleeding.
5. Do not apply heat, or ice to the wound. And do not use tourniquets, constriction
bands of any kind or make incisions to suck out venom.
One of the biggest dangers is shock, brought by a rapid fall in blood pressure. Pain
normally peaks in 1 to 2 hours, but may last for days. Oedema normally peaks within
2 to 4 hours and resolves itself without special measures within 72 hours. Because it
is largely subcutaneous, oedema has not been reported to cause compartment
syndrome or neurological problems. Most victims who are poisoned by a Beaded
Lizard are released from the hospital within 24 hours and recover completely within 2
weeks. More severe cases may require hospitalization up to 48 hours.
If wearing gloves, even thin leather or rubber gloves, the venom effects of a bite will
decrease tremendously.
17
45 minutes after a split second long bite from a 1,2 kg Heloderma horridum
18
10. List of References
Literature:
Beck, D, D. 2005. ‘Biology of Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards. Londen: The University of
California Press, ltd.
Bogert, C. M. Campo’s, M. Del . 1993. The Gila Monster and its allies. Oxford, Ohio,
USA:Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
Ivanyi, C., Perry Johnson, J. 2001. Beaded lizard north American regional studbook. 3 rd
edition, Tucson Arizona, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2001., 30 sept 2001, published by
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Tucson, Arizona.
Sewards, Dr. M. 2002. Gila Monster Propagation, how to breed Gila Monsters in captivity.
Second edition. Natural Selection Publishing.
Campbell, J.A. & Lamar, W.W. 2004. The venomous reptiles of the Western Hemisphere.
Vol. 1-2. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca, N.Y. 870 pp.
Reisinger, M. 2006. Heloderma horridum exasperatum. In: Reptilla, the European herp
magazine, nr. 47 (month), page 25-33.
Writer anonymous. 2006. Extincion is Imminent for the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard,
(Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti). In: Herpetological Review, nr 37 (2) (month), page 130-
140.
Other sources:
19
11. Bibliography
Alagón A.C., M.E., Maldonado, J.Z. Julia, C.R. Sanchez, and L.D. Possani. 1982. Venom from
two sub-species of Heloderma Horridum (Mexican Beaded Lizard): General characterization
and purification of N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester hydrolase. Toxicon 20: 463-75.
Alagón, A.C., L.D. Possani, J. Smart, and W.D. Schleuning. 1986. Helodermatine, a
kallikreinlike, hypotensive enzyme from the venom of Heloderma horridum horridum (Mexican
Beaded Lizard). Journal of Exoerimental Medicine 164: 1835-45)
Albriton, D.C., H. M. Parish, and E.R. Allen. 1970. Veneation by the Mexican Beaded Lizard
(Heloderma horridum): Report of a case. South Dakota Journal of Medicine 23: 9-11.
Álvarez del Toro, M. 1972. Los reptiles de Chiapas, 2nd ed. Gobierno del Estado, Tuxtla
Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico.
Álvarez del Toro, M. 1982. Los reptiles de Chiapas, 3rd ed. Publicación del Instituto de Historia
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Anstandig, L. 1984. The captive breeding and rearing of the Mexican Beaded Lizard,
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Arnberger, L.P. 1948. Gila Monster swallows quail eggs whole. Herpetologica 4: 209-10.
Arnett, J.R. 1976. Mexican Beaded Lizards in captivit. In American Association of Zoologial
Parks an Aquariums (AAZPA), Regional Conference Proceedings, 107-107d. American Zoo
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Arrington, O.N. 1930. Notes on the two poisonous lizards with special reference to Heloderma
suspectum. Bulletin of the Antivenin Insitute of America 4: 29-35.
Averu, R. A. 1982. Field studies of body temperatures and thermoregulation. In Biology of the
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Ecology of Beaded Lizads and rattlesnakes. PHD dissertation. Tucson: University of Arizona.
20
Beck, D.D. 1993. A retrospective of “the Gila Monster and its allies.” In The Gila Monster and
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Beck, D.D., M.R. Dohm, T. Garland Jr., A. Ramírez-Bautista, and C.H. Lowe. 19995.
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Beck, D.D., and Ramírez-Bautista. 1991. Combat behaviour of the Beaded Lizard Heloderma
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Campbell, J.A., and W.W. Lamar. 2004. The venomous reptiles of the western hemisphere in
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Conference Proceedings, American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums: 514-16
Conners, J.S. 1993. A long-term breeding program for the Beaded Lizard Heloderma horridum
at Detroit Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook 32: 184-88.
Conners, J.S. 1994. Birmingham Zoo hatches Beaded Lizards. American Zoo and Aquarium
Association Communiqué.
Cooke, E., and L. Loeb. 1913. General properties and actions of the venom of Heloderma,
and experiments in immunization. In The Venom of Heloderma, eds. Loeb, L., C.L. Alsberg, E.
Cooke, E.P. Corson-White, M.S. Fleisher, H. Fox, T.S. Githes, S. Leopold, M.L. Meyers, M.E..
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Cooper, W.E., Jr., and J. Armett. 2001. Absence of discriminatory tongue-flickin responses to
plant chemicals by helodermatid lizards. Southwestern Naturalist 46 (3): 405-9.
Eng, J., W.A. Kleinman, L.Singh, G.P. Raufman. 1990. Purification and structure of exendin-3,
a new pancereatic secretagogue isolated from Heloderma horridum venom. Journal of
Biological Chemistry 265: 20259-62.
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Fisher, J.G. 1882. Anatomische Notizen über Heloderma horridum, Wiegm. Berh. Ver.
Naturw. Unterh. (Hamburg) 5: 2-16.
Fox, H. 1913. Anatomy of the poison gland of Heloderma. In The venom of Heloderma, eds.
Loeb, L., C.L. Alsberg, E. Cooke, E.P. Corson-White, M.S. Fleisher, H. Fox, .T.S. Githens, S.
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Washington, DC: Carnegie Institution.
Furrer S. 2005. Breeding of the beaded lizard in Zurich Zoo, Eaza news 50 14-15.
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