Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti
Encyclopedia
The Motagua Valley beaded lizard, Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti, is a highly endangered subspecies
of beaded lizard
, a venomous lizard endemic to the dry forests of the Motagua
Valley in southeastern Guatemala
. It is the only allopatric subspecies, separated from the nearest population of beaded lizards (H. h. alvarezi) by 250 km of unsuitable habitat. The Motagua Valley beaded lizard is the rarest and most endangered subspecies of beaded lizard and it is believed that less than 200 of these animals 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 because of its critical conservation status.
of reptiles with toxin secreting glands. Apart from being the only allopatric population of Heloderma horridum this subspecies differs from other subspecies 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, Guatemala. The average home range
for individuals was found to be 130 ha.
This subspecies was first discovered in 1984 by an agricultural laborer named D. Vasquez in Guatemala's Motagua Valley.. Its generic
name Heloderma means "studded skin", from the Ancient Greek
words hêlos (ηλος)—the head of a nail or stud—and derma (δερμα), meaning skin. Its specific name, horrĭdum, is the Latin
word meaning rough or rude. Its subspecific name is after US Herpetologist Charles Mitchill Bogert
.
characterized by high densities of bird nests of doves and parakeets, whose eggs form the primary component of its diet. 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), a critically endangered
species endemic to the same region, are an important food source for the Motagua Valley beaded lizard, thereby possibly linking the status of the two.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of beaded lizard
Beaded lizard
The Beaded lizard is a species of venomous lizard found principally in Mexico and southern Guatemala. Along with its congener, the Gila monster , it is the only lizard to have evolved an overt venom delivery system, and has long been considered the only venomous lizard...
, a venomous lizard endemic to the dry forests of the Motagua
Motagua River
The Motagua River is a long 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 Guatemala/Honduras border...
Valley in southeastern Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. It is the only allopatric subspecies, separated from the nearest population of beaded lizards (H. h. alvarezi) by 250 km of unsuitable habitat. The Motagua Valley beaded lizard is the rarest and most endangered subspecies of beaded lizard and it is believed that less than 200 of these animals 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 because of its critical conservation status.
Taxonomy
The Motagua Valley beaded lizard belongs to the family Helodermatidae which forms part of a cladeClade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
of reptiles with toxin secreting glands. Apart from being the only allopatric population of Heloderma horridum this subspecies differs from other subspecies 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, Guatemala. The average home range
Home range
Home range is the area where an animal lives and travels in. It is closely related to, but not identical with, the concept of "territory".The concept that can be traced back to a publication in 1943 by W. H. Burt, who constructed maps delineating the spatial extent or outside boundary of an...
for individuals was found to be 130 ha.
This subspecies was first discovered in 1984 by an agricultural laborer named D. Vasquez in Guatemala's Motagua Valley.. Its generic
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
name Heloderma means "studded skin", from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
words hêlos (ηλος)—the head of a nail or stud—and derma (δερμα), meaning skin. Its specific name, horrĭdum, is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word meaning rough or rude. Its subspecific name is after US Herpetologist Charles Mitchill Bogert
Charles Mitchill Bogert
Charles Mitchill Bogert was an American herpetologist, and curator of herpetology and researcher for the American Museum of Natural History.-Early life and education:...
.
Diet
H. h. charlesbogerti dwells in arroyosArroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
characterized by high densities of bird nests of doves and parakeets, whose eggs form the primary component of its diet. 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
Guatemalan Spiny-tailed Iguana
The Guatemalan spiny-tailed iguana is a species of spiny-tailed iguana endemic to the Motagua Valley, Guatemala. This species is threatened by habitat loss and illegal trade. These iguanas are used as a source of food by natives...
(Ctenosaura palearis), a critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
species endemic to the same region, are an important food source for the Motagua Valley beaded lizard, thereby possibly linking the status of the two.