Heloderma exasperatum
| Rio Fuerte beaded lizard[1] | |
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| File:Heloderma exasperatum exposé au Palais de la Découverte en août 2019.jpg | |
| At Palais de la Découverte, France | |
CITES Appendix II
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| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Anguimorpha |
| Family: | Helodermatidae |
| Genus: | Heloderma |
| Species: | H. exasperatum
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| Binomial name | |
| Heloderma exasperatum Bogert & Martín del Campo, 1956
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| Synonyms[3] | |
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The Rio Fuerte beaded lizard (Heloderma exasperatum) is a venomous species of beaded lizard in the family Helodermatidae. It is found in the tropical forests and shrublands of western Mexico, specifically around the Rio Fuerte and Rio Mayo basins. It is often found in or near abandoned mammal burrows and sources of water.[4][5]
Geographic range
[edit | edit source]H. exasperatum is found in southwestern Chihuahua and southern Sonora, Mexico,[3] up to an altitude of 1,400 m (4,600 ft).[2]
Description
[edit | edit source]As an adult, the Rio Fuerte beaded lizard ranges from 60 to 90 cm (23.6 to 35.4 in) in total length (including tail). It can weigh up to 4 kg (8.8 lb). It is very similar to the Mexican beaded lizard in appearance and size.[5]
Diet
[edit | edit source]H. exasperatum feeds mainly on reptile eggs, but also eats bird eggs, and nestlings of birds and mammals.[2]
Reproduction
[edit | edit source]H. exasperatum is oviparous.[3]
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]The Rio Fuerte beaded lizard is a member of the family Helodermatidae. The species was formerly considered a subspecies of the Mexican beaded lizard, which is its closest living relative, but was elevated to full species status in 2013.[6]
Etymology
[edit | edit source]The generic name, Heloderma, means "studded skin", from the Ancient Greek words hêlos (ηλος), meaning "the head of a nail or stud", and derma (δερμα), meaning "skin".
The specific name, exasperatum, means "completely rough" in Latin.[5]
References
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- ^ a b c Species Heloderma exasperatum at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). (Heloderma exasperatum, new taxonomic status).
Further reading
[edit | edit source]- Bogert CM, Martín del Campo R (1956). "The Gila Monster and its Allies: The Relationships, Habits, and Behavior of the Lizards of the Family Helodermatidae". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 109: 1–238. (Heloderma horridum exasperatum, new subspecies, pp. 28–32).
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