There are five members of the Heloderma family. You have the stocky Gila Monster found in deserts and four species of the more agile, humid-liking beaded lizards. All of these lizards are venomous with the glands found at the end of the lower jaw. They chew their venom into their prey because they aren’t strong enough to inject it. This is only used for defense as well as hunting.
These animals range from near threatened to vulnerable. Much of the problem is human encroachment into their habitat, but a bigger problem is mythology. Being venomous, there are many stories about helodermas having toxic breath, toxic spit, amazing leaping abilities, and simply being dangerous to humans. In reality, they aren’t a threat, but people get scared and destroy them. As you can imagine, a key to protecting these lizards is education along with breeding programs.
Couldn’t find much else that was exciting, so let’s get to the pictures and videos for more:
Chiapan Beaded Lizard
Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) in Arizona
Guatemalan Beaded Lizard
Mexican Beaded Lizard
Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizard
Legends of Windemere 
I always wanted to see one in the wild. Kept my eyes peeled whenever I was in southern Nevada or Arizona, but have never seen one outside of a zoo.
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Same here. Maybe I’ll visit their territory one day.
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These lizards are impressive- enough so that I would take a wide berth around them!
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Admire from a distance.
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Gila Monsters were one of the few venomous reptiles I might have encountered during my childhood, although that was unlikely. Their color is striking. All in all, the whole clan looks pretty chill.
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Pretty things always seem to be deadly in nature. Can see that with some humans too.
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These guys do not need to be near me for sure. Thanks for the photos and videos
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You’re welcome.
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Fascinating, Charles. I love your animal posts.
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Thanks.
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You’re welcome.
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Such a pity there is so much ignorance and myths about these creatures. But it’s a human instinct to kill what we fear, and people fear these guys.
My son-in-law is afraid of spiders and kills every one he sees, in spite of my protestations. In the 80s, a neighbour killed a grass snake (totally harmless) in his garden, just because it was a snake.
I wish we could educate the world. Every individual. But you are doing your part, Charles. Well done.
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I’m scared of spiders too. I leave them alone outside, but indoors means it’s a fight. Just really don’t like them. To be fair, all animals attack what they fear if they don’t run away. Humans aren’t unique in that.
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That’s true.
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