The genus Heloderma contains the Gila monster (H. suspectum) and four species of beaded lizards. Their eyes are immobile and fixed in their head. The Gila monster is a large, stocky, most of the time slow-moving reptile that … See more

All species of Heloderma are oviparous. The Gila monster typically lays 6 eggs, the beaded lizards up to about 18 eggs . Comparing the … See more

Venom production among lizards was long thought to be unique to this genus, but researchers studying venom production have proposed many others also produce some venom, all placed in the clade Toxicofera, which includes all snakes and 13 other families of … See more

The venom glands of Heloderma are located at the end of the lower jaws, unlike snakes' venom glands, which are located behind the eyes. Also, unlike snakes, the Gila monster and beaded lizards lack the musculature to inject venom immediately. They have to See more

Helodermatids are carnivorous, preying on rodents and other small mammals, and eating the eggs of birds and reptiles. See more

Family Helodermatidae
The four subspecies of beaded lizards were elevated to full species in 2013.
Members of the genus Heloderma have many extinct relatives in the Helodermatidae whose evolutionary history may be … See more

H. horridum, H. exasperatum, and H. suspectum are frequently found in captivity and are well represented in zoos throughout much of … See more