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A Mexican Beaded Lizard resting in a small , rocky pool of water. Its body is slender, and dark brown with yellow spots all over.

Beaded Lizard

Common Name:
Beaded Lizard
Scientific Name:
Heloderma horridum
Gestation Period:
190 days
Habitats:
  • Desert
  • Forest
  • Rocky Areas
  • Shrubland
Length:
2.5 ft
Life Span:
30 yrs
Number of Young:
3-13 eggs
Weight:
5 lb
About:

Did you know the beaded appearance comes from bones under the skin that act a bit like armor plating? Learn more about beaded lizards.

Behavior:
  • Solitary, males will fight for hours to win the opportunity to breed with a female.
  • They go underground during the heat of the day.
  • They appear sluggish when first coming out at night, but can move fast if needed.
  • Lacking fangs, they must chew on their prey to inject it with their venom.
Endangered Status
  • Least Concern (LC)
Fun Facts:
  • Males are slightly larger than females.
  • The beaded appearance comes from bones under the skin that act a bit like armor plating.
  • Bites to humans are rarely fatal. If threatened, beaded lizards open their mouth wide and hiss before biting.
  • When food is scarce, they rely on fat stores in their tail for energy.
Mexican Beaded Lizard crawling on a rocky surface. Its brown and white spotted skin has a unique beaded texture that spans from its flat, rounded head to its long pointed tail.

Related Resources

A wide exterior shot showcases the large, glass-domed Desert exhibit building under a bright blue sky with wispy clouds. In front of the building, a landscaped area features various desert plants like cacti and succulents, along with rocks. A paved pathway curves in the foreground, and a wooden bench is visible on the right.
The Desert Habitat

The Desert is a glass-domed building designed to recreate an arid, colorful desert. Walk among free-flight birds, towering saguaros and watch the racing roadrunners.