Mexican Bearded Lizard

Mexican beaded lizards are large venomous reptiles. Both males and females are stocky with broad heads, although the males’ tend to be broader. The scales of these lizards are small, beadlike, and not overlapping. Except for the underside, the majority of their scales are underlaid with bony osteoderms. The base color of Mexican beaded lizards is black and marked with varying amounts of yellow spots or bands, with some individuals being all black in color. They have a short tail that is used to store fat so they can survive during months of estivation. Unlike many other lizards, this tail does not autotomize and cannot grow back if broken. Beaded lizards have a forked, pink tongue which they use to smell, with the help of a Jacobson’s organ; they stick their tongue out to gather scents and touche it to the opening of the organ when the tongue is retracted.

Mexican beaded lizards are found in Mexico and southern Guatemala. They occur in the Pacific drainages from southern Sonora to southwestern Guatemala and two Atlantic drainages, from central Chiapas to southeastern Guatemala. These lizards live in tropical deciduous forests, thorn scrub forests, pine-oak forests and in tropical scrubland.

Habits and Lifestyle

Mexican beaded lizards are only active from April to mid-November, spending about an hour per day above the ground. They are semi-arboreal reptiles that climb trees at night in search of prey. During the day, they hide in burrows or under rocks. Mexican beaded lizards use their venom to kill their prey, and also to weaken potential predators. When threatened, they will also produce hisses.

Diet and Nutrition

Mexican beaded lizards are carnivores feeding primarily on bird and reptile eggs. They may also hunt small birds, mammals, frogs, lizards, and insects.

Mating Habits