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. |
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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adult alvarezi animals areas Ariano Sánchez 2003 basking Beaded Lizards Beck and Jennings Beck and Lowe behavior biology bite body mass body temperatures Bogert and Martín burrow captive Chamela chap charlesbogerti Chiapas Chihuahuan Desert cinctum combat comm conservation DeNardo derma Desert Tortoise dry forest habitats ecology ectotherms eggs energy Estesia exasperatum exendin-4 feeding female foraging fossil Gienger Gila Monsters habitat loss hatch Helo heloder Heloderma horridum Heloderma suspectum Heloderma venom helodermatid lizards helospectin horridum incubation individuals Jalisco jaws juvenile male Martín del Campo matid lizards mating Mexican Beaded Lizard Mexico Mohave Desert Monsters and Beaded nest Nevada Norell observed occurs osteoderms pack rat patterns peptides plate populations Pough predators Pregill rats relatively reproductive reptiles ridum season shelters snakes Sonora Sonoran Desert southern Arizona specimens sters subspecies summer tail thornscrub tion tongue toxin tropical dry forest Tucson ture Utah varanid lizards Varanus venom system water loss wildlife