Biology of Gila Monsters and Beaded LizardsNo two lizard species have spawned as much folklore, wonder, and myth as the Gila Monster, Heloderma suspectum, and the Beaded Lizard, H. horridum—the sole survivors of an ancient group of predacious lizards called the Monstersauria. More like snakes on legs, monstersaurs are a walking contradiction: they are venomous yet don't appear to use their venom for subduing prey; their mottled patterns mingle with the broken shadows and textures of their desert and tropical dry forest habitats, yet their bright open mouths hiss a bold warning that a nasty bite awaits those who advance further. And while Gila Monster venom produces excruciating pain, it also contains a peptide that has become a promising new drug for treating type-2 diabetes. Perhaps the ultimate paradox is that monstersaurs are among the most famous of lizards, yet until quite recently they have remained among the least studied. With numerous illustrations, stunning color photographs, and an up-to-date synthesis of their biology, this book explains why the Monstersauria seems poised to change the way we think about lizards. Daniel D. Beck—who has been investigating Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards for over 22 years—teams up here with award-winning wildlife photographer Tom Wiewandt to produce a comprehensive summary of this small but remarkable family of lizards. |
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A great book. Gives us the info we need to understand and protect these amazing lizards.
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sounds like a good book.
Contents
Monsters in Our Midst HISTORY HUMANS AND HELODERMA | 1 |
Evolution Distribution and Systematics | 18 |
The Venom System and Envenomation | 41 |
Physiological Ecology | 62 |
Habitat Use and Activity Patterns | 82 |
Population Ecology | 107 |
Diet Feeding and Foraging Ecology | 118 |
Reproduction Behavior and Heloderma in Captivity | 132 |
Conservation | 152 |
Future Directions | 174 |
| 179 | |
| 201 | |
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Common terms and phrases
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Bibliographic information
| Title | Biology of Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards Volume 9 of Organisms and Environments |
| Author | Daniel D. Beck |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | University of California Press, 2005 |
| ISBN | 0520931602, 9780520931602 |
| Length | 247 pages |
| Subjects | › › Nature / Animals / General Science / Life Sciences / Biology |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |