Welcome to Lincoln Park Zoo’s new web app! Share your feedback
Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizard
Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House
Did You Know?
- Mexican beaded lizards have several special grooved teeth that deliver venom when they bite. Those teeth are on the lower jaw bones. They use the venom primarily for defense but may also use it to subdue prey. This venom is rarely fatal to humans.
- Their tails look thick and swollen. That’s because they store fat the lizards can draw upon when food is scarce.
- These reptiles are nocturnal. They hide during the day in burrows, sometimes abandoned homes used by other animals and sometimes ones they dug. When they first emerge at night, they are slow and clumsy.
Don’t See the Animals?
Why aren’t animals visible at all times? To promote positive animal welfare, we provide animals with choices. They can choose to spend time in areas that are out of public view.
Take an Animal Home with You
Overview
Scientific Name: Heloderma horridum exasperatum
Class: Reptiles
Diet: Small mammals, birds, lizards, frogs, insects, and eggs
Range: Western Mexico
Endangered Status: Least Concern
More Information
Rio Fuerte beaded lizards are a subspecies of Mexican beaded lizard with a long and heavy body. They can get to 35 inches in length and weigh up to 9 pounds. They are named for the hard brown and black scales on their back, which look like beads. They also have yellow scales.
Breeding season takes place between February and March. After that, females bury three to 13 eggs and abandon them, leaving young on their own after hatching. Survivors reach maturity at around 2.5 years of age.
