The Guatemalan beaded lizard (''Heloderma charlesbogerti)'', also called commonly the Motagua Valley beaded lizard, is a highly endangered

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

beaded lizard The Mexican beaded lizard (''Heloderma horridum'') is a species of lizard in the Family (biology), family Helodermatidae, one of the two species of venomous beaded lizards found principally in Mexico and southern Guatemala. It and congener (biolo ...

, a

venomous Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

lizard in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Helodermatidae The Helodermatidae or beaded lizards are a small family of lizards endemic to North America today, but formerly more widespread in the ancient past. Traditionally, the Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard were the only species recognized, al ...

. The species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the dry forests of the

Motagua Valley The Motagua River () is a river in Guatemala. It rises in the western highlands of Guatemala where it is also called Río Grande, and runs in an easterly direction to the Gulf of Honduras. The final few kilometres of the river form part of the G ...

in southeastern

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...

, an

ecoregion An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of l ...

known as the Motagua Valley thornscrub. It is the only

allopatric Allopatric speciation () – also referred to as geographic speciation, vicariant speciation, or its earlier name the dumbbell model – is a mode of speciation that occurs when biological populations become geographically isolated from ...

beaded lizard species, separated from the nearest population (''H. alvarezi)'' by 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 individuals of this animal exist in the wild, making it one of the most endangered lizards in the world. In 2007, it was transferred from Appendix II to Appendix I of

CITES CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of interna ...

due to its critical conservation status.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of interna ...

. 2007. Resume of the 14th Convention of the Parts. The Hague. The Netherlands.

Taxonomy

The Guatemalan beaded lizard belongs to the family

which forms part of a

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

of reptiles with toxin secreting glands. This species differs from other ''

Heloderma ''Heloderma'' is a genus of toxicoferan lizards that contains five species, all of which are venomous. It is the only extant genus of the family Helodermatidae. Description The genus ''Heloderma'' contains the Gila monster (''H. suspectum'') a ...

'' 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 Zacapa () is the departmental capital municipality of Zacapa Department Zacapa () is one of the 22 departments of Guatemala. It lies in eastern Guatemala with its capital in the city of Zacapa, approximately 112 kilometers (70 miles) from G ...

, Guatemala.Ariano-Sánchez D (2006). "The Guatemalan beaded lizard: endangered inhabitant of a unique ecosystem". ''Iguana'' 13: 178-183. The average

home range A home range is the area in which an animal lives and moves on a periodic basis. It is related to the concept of an animal's territory which is the area that is actively defended. The concept of a home range was introduced by W. H. Burt in 1943. He ...

for individuals was found to be 130 ha. This species was first discovered in 1984 by an agricultural laborer named D. Vasquez in Guatemala's Motagua Valley.

Etymology

The

generic Generic or generics may refer to: In business * Generic term, a common name used for a range or class of similar things not protected by trademark * Generic brand, a brand for a product that does not have an associated brand or trademark, other ...

name, ''Heloderma'', means "studded skin", from the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...

words ''hêlos'' (ηλος), meaning "the head of a nail or stud", and ''derma'' (δερμα), meaning "skin". The specific name, ''charlesbogerti'', honors US herpetologist

Charles Mitchill Bogert Charles Mitchill Bogert (June 4, 1908 – April 10, 1992) was an American herpetologist, and curator of herpetology and researcher for the American Museum of Natural History. Early life and education Born in Mesa, Colorado, Bogert was a technicia ...

Diet

''H. charlesbogerti'' dwells in

arroyos Arroyo often refers to: * Arroyo (creek), an intermittently dry creek Arroyo may also refer to: People * Arroyo (surname) Places United States ;California * Arroyo Burro Beach, a public beach park in Santa Barbara County, California * Arroyo ...

characterized by high densities of bird nests of doves and parakeets, whose eggs form the primary component of its diet.Ariano-Sánchez, Daniel (2003). "''Distribución e historia natural del escorpión, ''Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti'' Campbell y Vannini, (Sauria: Helodermatidae) en Zacapa, Guatemala y caracterización de su veneno'' ". Guatemala: U.V.G., p. 68. (in Spanish). These birds nest closer to the ground in these arroyos in trees with branches thick enough to support the weight of this heavy-bodied lizard. It is known to prey upon insects, such as beetles and crickets. The eggs of the

Guatemalan Spiny-tailed Iguana ''Ctenosaura palearis'', commonly known as the Motagua spiny-tailed iguana, is a species of spiny-tailed iguana endemic to the Motagua Valley in Guatemala. Conservation status This species is threatened by habitat loss and illegal trade. These ...

(''Ctenosaura palearis''), an

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inva ...

species endemic to the same region, are an important food source for the Guatemalan beaded lizard, thereby possibly linking the status of the two. Owens, T.C. (2006). Ex-situ: Notes on reproduction and captive husbandry of the Guatemalan beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti). Iguana: 212-215.

References

External links

*. *.
''Heloderma'' Project ZOO ATLANTA, IRCF, ZOOTROPIC, project
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1049318 Helodermatidae Endemic fauna of Guatemala Reptiles of Guatemala Venomous lizards Lizards of Central America Critically endangered fauna of North America Reptiles described in 1988

Taxonomy

Etymology

Diet

Further reading

References

External links