"Mexican beaded lizard The Mexican beaded lizard (""Heloderma horridum"") is a species of lizard in the family Helodermatidae, one of the two species of venomous beaded lizards found principally in Mexico and southern Guatemala. It and its congener (member of the same genus) 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"
"known. Heloderma Helioderm, the family is the only genus of Heliodartidae, in which there are toxic inscriptions in the south in the southwest United States, Mexico, and Guatemala. It consists of five different species, of which there are two subspecies. Their nearest living relatives are lizards. Helodermatids (or beaded lizards) are large, stocky, slow-moving reptiles that prefer semi-arid climates. Their tails are short and used as fat storage organs. They are covered with small, nonoverlapping, bead-like scales, with osteoderms on the undersides of their bodies. Both species are dark in color, with yellowish or pinkish markings. Members of the family"
"prey upon insects, such as beetles and crickets. The eggs of the Guatemalan Spiny-tailed Iguana (""Ctenosaura palearis""), an endangered species endemic to the same region, are an important food source for the Guatemalan beaded lizard, thereby possibly linking the status of the two. Heloderma charlesbogerti The Guatemalan beaded lizard (""Heloderma charlesbogerti""), also called the Motagua Valley beaded lizard, is a highly endangered species of beaded lizard, a venomous lizard endemic to the dry forests of the Motagua Valley in southeastern Guatemala, an ecoregion known as the Motagua Valley thornscrub. It is the only allopatric beaded lizard species, separated from the"
"Heloderma Helioderm, the family is the only genus of Heliodartidae, in which there are toxic inscriptions in the south in the southwest United States, Mexico, and Guatemala. It consists of five different species, of which there are two subspecies. Their nearest living relatives are lizards. Helodermatids (or beaded lizards) are large, stocky, slow-moving reptiles that prefer semi-arid climates. Their tails are short and used as fat storage organs. They are covered with small, nonoverlapping, bead-like scales, with osteoderms on the undersides of their bodies. Both species are dark in color, with yellowish or pinkish markings. Members of the family are"
"Heloderma charlesbogerti The Guatemalan beaded lizard (""Heloderma charlesbogerti""), also called the Motagua Valley beaded lizard, is a highly endangered species of beaded lizard, a venomous lizard endemic to the dry forests of the Motagua Valley in southeastern Guatemala, an ecoregion known as the Motagua Valley thornscrub. It is the only allopatric beaded lizard species, separated from the nearest population (""H. alvarezi"") by 250 km of unsuitable habitat. The Guatemalan beaded lizard is the rarest and most endangered species of beaded lizard and it is believed that fewer than 200 of these animals exist in the wild, making it one of"
"Hank, a gun-toting, cowboy-hat-wearing Gila monster. A similar character as an old western outlaw was seen in 2011 animated film ""Rango"", called Bad Bill; the character was voiced by Ray Winstone. In 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights selected a Gila monster, named Chance, as the official mascot. Gila monster The Gila monster (""Heloderma suspectum"", ) is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. A heavy, typically slow-moving lizard, up to long, the Gila monster is the only venomous lizard native to the United States and one of only two known"
"HEE-lə) is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. The Gila monster is the only venomous lizard native to the United States, and like the 1st Volunteers they are a native to the land and unique in its commitment and deadly beyond any of its kind. The fight brought to the Apache menace was that of native peoples banded together by leaders like CPT John D. Walker. By comparison, the Heloderma suspectum, the volunteers were slow in sprinting ability (due to improper funding, living quarters and rations), but they proved"
"the most endangered lizards in the world. In 2007, it was transferred from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES due to its critical conservation status. The Guatemalan beaded lizard belongs to the family Helodermatidae which forms part of a clade of reptiles with toxin secreting glands. This species differs from other ""Heloderma"" species in coloration and size, being the smallest one. Home ranges and behavior of these lizards were investigated using radio-telemetry at the dry forests of Zacapa, Guatemala. The average home range for individuals was found to be 130 ha. This species was first discovered in 1984 by"
"Helothermine Helothermine (or HLTx) is a toxin from the venom of the Mexican beaded lizard ""Heloderma horridum horridum"". Helothermine inhibits ryanodine receptors, calcium channels and potassium channels. Helothermine can cause lethargy, partial paralysis of rear limbs and lowering of the body temperature. The name of the toxin helothermine is derived from its source, a Heloderma lizard, and one of its effects in mice, induction of hypothermia. Helothermine is a toxin found in the venom (salivary secretion) of the Mexican beaded lizard ""Heloderma horridum horridum"", one of the four subspecies of the beaded lizard. Besides helothermine the venom of the Mexican"
"desert, tropical deciduous forests and thorn scrub forests, but are found in pine-oak forests, with elevations from sea level to 1500 m. In the wild, the lizards are only active from April to mid-November, spending about an hour per day above the ground. The Mexican beaded lizard ""H. horridum"" is found in Mexico, from Sonora to Oaxaca. The Rio Fuerte beaded lizard (""H. exasperatum"") is found from southern Sonora to northern Sinaloa. The Chiapan beaded lizard (""H. alvarezi"") is found in the northern Chiapas and the depression of the Río Lagartero in Huehuetenango to northwestern Guatemala. The ranges of these"
"beaded lizard also contains at least three other toxins and several enzymes. The peptide HLTx consists of 242 amino acids residues in a single polypeptide chain. It is stabilized with eight disulfide bridges and has a molecular weight of 25.5 kDa. The iso-electric point is 6.8 and the N-terminal amino acid sequence is: Glu-Ala-Ser-Pro-Lys-Leu-Pro-Gly-Leu-Met-Thr-Ser-Asn-Pro-Asp-Gln-Gln-Thr- Glu-Ile. HLTx shows no structural similarities with any of the known sodium-, potassium- or calcium channel-specific toxins. Highest similarities are found with a family of cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP), found in human and in mice testes. HLTx inhibits ryanodine receptors of sarcoplasmatisch reticulum and both calcium"
"its tail, or make a pregnant woman miscarry by merely looking at her. As a result of this superstition, locals often kill the lizard on sight. The seldom-seen lizard is poached and sold into the illegal exotic animal trade. It does not reproduce well in captivity, and its scarcity means a high price for collectors. As a direct result, the beaded lizard is protected by Mexican law under the category A (Threatened), and it dwells within the range of several protected areas. In Guatemala, it is protected by national legislation, and part of its range is within protected areas. It"
"three species overlap, making them sympatric. The Guatemalan beaded lizard (""H. charlesbogerti"") is the only allopatric one, separated from the nearest population (""H. alvarezi"") by 250 km of unsuitable habitat. The Guatemalan beaded lizard is the most endangered of the species, if not of all lizards; it is found only in the dry valley of the Río Motagua in northeastern Guatemala; less than 200 are believed to exist in the wild. The beaded lizard is a specialized vertebrate nest predator, feeding primarily on bird and reptile eggs. A semi-arboreal species, it is found climbing deciduous trees in search of prey"
"genus. There is only once genus, with 6 species, found in the Xenosauridae family. This family is both dorsally and ventrally covered in knob-like scales. Their tail is about 1.2 times the length of their body. They give live birth, with a litter usually consisting of two offspring. The family Helodermatidae (beaded lizards) has only one genus with 5 species, incluing the Gila monster. This family is the only know family of lizards that have well-developed venom glands. They have somewhat tubercular scales both dorsally and laterally, with their ventral scales being smooth , and being larger than the dorsal"
"occur when the intoxicated animals are touched on the dorsal parts of their body. The specific toxins of the Mexican beaded lizard are probably evolved to immobilize preys, as these lizards move very slowly themselves. Helothermine Helothermine (or HLTx) is a toxin from the venom of the Mexican beaded lizard ""Heloderma horridum horridum"". Helothermine inhibits ryanodine receptors, calcium channels and potassium channels. Helothermine can cause lethargy, partial paralysis of rear limbs and lowering of the body temperature. The name of the toxin helothermine is derived from its source, a Heloderma lizard, and one of its effects in mice, induction of"
"Mexican mole lizard The Mexican mole lizard (Bipes biporus), commonly known as the five-toed worm lizard, or simply as ""Bipes"", is a species of amphisbaenian, which is endemic to the Baja California Peninsula. It is one of four species of amphisbaenians that have legs. It should not be confused with the axolotl, a salamander (""Ambystoma mexicanum""), which is usually called ""ajolote"" in Spanish. It is commonly found in Baja California. They are pink, worm-like lizards, snout-to-vent length and in width, that live for one to two years. Their skin is closely segmented to give a corrugated appearance, and like earthworms,"
"New Mexico whiptail The New Mexico whiptail (""Aspidoscelis neomexicanus"") is a female-only species of lizard found in the southwestern United States in New Mexico and Arizona, and in northern Mexico in Chihuahua. It is the official state reptile of New Mexico. It is one of many lizard species known to be parthenogenic. Individuals of the species can be created either through the hybridization of the little striped whiptail (""A. inornatus"") and the western whiptail (""A. tigris""), or through the parthenogenic reproduction of an adult New Mexico whiptail. The hybridization of these species prevents healthy males from forming, whereas males exist"
"Polkadot poison frog The polkadot poison frog (""Oophaga arborea"") is a species of frogs in the family Dendrobatidae endemic to Panama, where it is known as rana venenosa in Spanish. Its natural habitats are humid lowland and montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss and is listed by the IUCN as being ""endangered"". The snout-to-vent length of the polkadot poison frog is . The hind limbs are short and the forelimbs relatively long with large hands. The fingers are unwebbed, the second one being longer than the first, and all but the first finger have flat discs of thickened"
"a passive envenomation system. Recent studies also show that the close relatives of the Komodo, the monitor lizards, all have a similar envenomation system, but the toxicity of the bites is relatively low to humans. The Gila monster and beaded lizards of North and Central America are venomous, but not deadly to humans. Though they survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, many squamate species are now endangered due to habitat loss, hunting and poaching, illegal wildlife trading, alien species being introduced to their habitats (which puts native creatures at risk through competition, disease, and predation), and other anthropogenic causes. Because of"
"and chews to get its venomous saliva into the wound. Although its jaw grip is strong, its unsocketed teeth are easily broken off at their bases. The beaded lizard's venom is a weak hemotoxin, and although human deaths are rare, it can cause respiratory failure. It consists of a number of components, including L-amino acid oxidase, hyaluronidase, phospholipase A, serotonin, and highly active kallikreins that release vasoactive kinins. The venom contains no enzymes that significantly affect coagulation. Almost all documented human bites (eight in the past century) have resulted from prodding captive lizards with a finger or bare foot. While"
"rattlesnake, and western black-tailed rattlesnake); mildly venomous snakes (black-necked gartersnake, narrowhead garter snake and western terrestrial garter snake); and non-venomous snakes California kingsnake, glossy snake, gopher snake, long-nosed snake, striped whipsnake, and the ringneck snake. Lizards include eastern collared lizard, greater short-horned lizard, ornate tree lizard, plateau fence lizard, sagebrush lizard and several types of whiptails. Skinks include the great plains skink and the many-lined skink. Native amphibian species include the American bullfrog, Arizona toad, Arizona tree frog, canyon tree frog, chiricahua leopard frog, Couch's spadefoot toad, great plains toad, Mexican spadefoot, northern leopard frog, plains spadefoot, red-spotted toad, western"
"Protector Palo Seco. Taking these various factors into account, the IUCN has listed the conservation status of this species as ""endangered"". Polkadot poison frog The polkadot poison frog (""Oophaga arborea"") is a species of frogs in the family Dendrobatidae endemic to Panama, where it is known as rana venenosa in Spanish. Its natural habitats are humid lowland and montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss and is listed by the IUCN as being ""endangered"". The snout-to-vent length of the polkadot poison frog is . The hind limbs are short and the forelimbs relatively long with large hands. The fingers"
"or alarmed, its body becomes inflated. The Mexican burrowing toad eats insects, primarily ants and termites. The Mexican burrowing toad is genetically unique in a number of ways. According to EDGE, Mexican burrowing toads are: The only species, within the only genus of the family Rhinophrynidae, and with over 190 million years of independent evolution, the Mexican burrowing toad is the most evolutionarily distinct amphibian species on Earth today; a fruit bat, polar bear, killer whale, kangaroo and human are all more similar to one another than this species is to any other amphibian. Mexican burrowing toad The Mexican burrowing"
"and two other rare species, the hairy-legged vampire bat (""Diphylla ecaudata"") and the white-winged vampire bat (""Diaemus youngi""). These bats produce toxic saliva with anticoagulant properties and have a series of anatomical and physiological adaptations to allow nourishment based solely on blood. The majority of their prey do not perish from the attack or contact with the venom. Slow lorises (of the genus ""Nycticebus"") are accepted as the only known venomous primate. Slow loris venom was known in folklore in their host countries throughout southeast Asia for centuries; but dismissed by Western science until the 1990s. There are nine recognised"
"Marbled poison frog The marbled poison frog or marbled poison-arrow frog (""Epipedobates boulengeri"") is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae found in western Colombia (Cauca, Nariño, Valle del Cauca Departments, including Gorgona Island) and northwestern Ecuador, at elevations of asl. It likely represents a species complex of at least two species. Males measure and females in snout–vent length. Colouration is variable; dorsum is dark reddish to uniform dark brown, sides are black. There is a pale yellowish or creamy white lateral line and cream-coloured dorsolateral line. Iris is dark coppery black. Diet is varied and includes mites, ants,"
"Phyllobates bicolor Phyllobates bicolor, also known as the black-legged poison frog, bicolored dart frog or neari in Choco, is the second-most toxic of the wild poison dart frogs. This species obtained its name due to its normally yellow or orange body with black or dark blue hindlegs and forelimbs below the elbow. It lives in the lowland forests in the Chocó area in western Colombia, along the San Juan River. In this species, the male transports tadpoles adhering on its back. ""Phyllobates bicolor"" is one of the largest poison dart frogs. Males can reach a length of 45–50 mm from"
"Timber rattlesnake The timber rattlesnake, canebrake rattlesnake or banded rattlesnake (""Crotalus horridus""), is a species of venomous pit viper endemic to the eastern United States. This is the only rattlesnake species in most of the populous northeastern United States and is second only to the related prairie rattlesnake as the most northerly distributed venomous snake in North America. No subspecies are currently recognized. The subspecies ""C. h. atricaudatus"" (Latreille ""in"" Sonnini and Latreille, 1802), often referred to as the canebrake rattlesnake, is currently considered invalid. Previously, it was recognized by Gloyd (1936) and Klauber (1936). Based on an analysis of"
"Red-backed poison frog The red-backed poison frog (""Ranitomeya reticulata"") is a species of frog in the family Dendrobatidae. It is an arboreal insectivorous species, and is the second-most poisonous species in the genus, after ""R. variabilis"". Like many species of small, poisonous frogs native to South America, it is grouped with the poison dart frogs, and is a moderately toxic species, containing poison capable of causing serious injury to humans, and death in animals such as chickens. ""R. reticulata"" is native to the Amazon rainforest in Peru and Ecuador. The red-backed poison frog is a moderately toxic dendrobatid, and is"
"Banded rock lizard The banded rock lizard (""Petrosaurus mearnsi"" ) is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to western North America. The specific name, ""mearnsi"", is in honor of American naturalist Edgar Alexander Mearns, who collected the first specimens. ""P. mearnsi"" is endemic to extreme southern California and Baja California, Mexico. It also occurs on Isla El Muerto. ""P. mearnsi"" is an extremely flat-bodied lizard. Its dorsum is olive, brown or gray, with white or bluish spots. It has a single black collar, a banded tail, and granular scales on its body, with keeled"
"is used to store fat so it can survive during months of estivation. Unlike many other lizards, this tail does not autotomize and cannot grow back if broken. The beaded lizard has a forked, pink tongue which it uses to smell, with the help of a Jacobson's organ; it sticks its tongue out to gather scents and touches it to the opening of the organ when the tongue is retracted. Beaded lizards are found in the Pacific drainages from southern Sonora to southwestern Guatemala and two Atlantic drainages, from central Chiapas to southeastern Guatemala. Their habitats are primarily in the"
"Abronia graminea Abronia graminea, commonly known as Mexican Alligator Lizard, is an endangered arboreal alligator lizard described in 1864 by Cope. This species is endemic to the highlands of the states of Veracruz and adjacent Puebla, Mexico. It is considered to be moderately common and is regularly recorded, but its abundance is decreasing. Animals inhabit bromeliads in the canopy of montane pine-oak and cloud forest. It seems unlikely that this species can be found in degraded habitat. This is a viviparous species. The species is threatened by illegal collection for the pet trade, deforestation and degradation of habitat, largely through"
"(swelling), weakness, sweating, and a rapid fall in blood pressure. Beaded lizards are immune to the effects of their own venom. Some compounds in its venom have been shown to have pharmacological properties relating to the possible treatment of diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and even HIV. One compound, a hormone named exendin-3, is marketed by Amylin Pharmaceuticals as the drug exenatide. A study in 1996 revealed that it binds to cell receptors in breast cancer cells and may stop the growth of lung cancer cells. The beaded lizard becomes sexually mature at six to eight years and mates between September and"
"Plumed basilisk The plumed basilisk (""Basiliscus plumifrons""), also called commonly the green basilisk, the double crested basilisk, or the Jesus Christ lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Central America. The natural distribution of ""B. plumifrons"" ranges from eastern Honduras, through Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to western Panama. The plumed basilisk's generic name ""Basiliscus"" is taken from the legendary reptilian creature of European mythology which could turn a man to stone by its gaze: the Basilisk. This name derives from the Greek ""basilískos"" (βασιλίσκος) meaning ""little king"". This generic name was given"