Overview

Beaded lizards belong to the genus Heloderma, a small and biologically significant group of reptiles that includes only a few living species. They are among the very few venomous lizards in the world, a distinction that immediately sets them apart from most commonly kept reptiles. The most widely recognized species is Heloderma horridum, commonly referred to as the Mexican beaded lizard, though several subspecies and closely related forms exist within the genus. Another well-known member of the genus is the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), which shares many anatomical and physiological traits with beaded lizards but occupies a different geographic range. Taxonomically, beaded lizards are classified within the family Helodermatidae. This family is ancient, with fossil evidence indicating that helodermatid lizards have existed for tens of millions of years with relatively little morphological change. This evolutionary stability reflects a highly successful survival strategy that has required minimal adaptation over time. Their placement within Squamata aligns them with lizards and snakes, yet their physiology and behavior differ markedly from most other squamate reptiles.

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