Rarest of the Rare

by **BWSmith** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:46 pm

I had a very unique opportunity yesterday. I got to get within 2' (unobstructed) of a Guatemalan Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum charlesboerti). This species is near extinction with less than an estimated 200 of them left in the wild. Extinction of this animal in the wild is considered imminent. I can't convey what an honor it was to view this animal first hand with nothing but a little air between us.

You can read information about them here: [url]="http://www.ircf.org/projectheloderma/beaded.html"[/url]http://www.ircf.org/projectheloderma/beaded.html

by **Mongoose** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 7:24 pm

Wow it is very nice!!! such a pitty that such a pretty animal is in dangered!!

by **Pythonodipsas** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:21 pm

Wow thats attractive...

Who or which lucky institution has this animal?

by **BWSmith** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:24 pm

Zoo Atlanta has 4.1 of the 16 in captivity in the US

by **gaboon** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:18 am

If it is so endangered, are there no breeding programmes in the US for this species or, if so, is it only for retail purposes?

by **snake-5** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 8:19 am

Dam in cases like that they should just remove as many wild caught specimens as they can find and start breeding programmes,

by **Sean** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 8:26 am

Very nice and Excellent, im sassuming this one is in captivity?

by **BWSmith** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 4:49 pm

gaboon wrote:If it is so endangered, are there no breeding programmes in the US for this species or, if so, is it only for retail purposes?

There are a couple breeding programs at Zoo Atlanta and the San Diego Zoo. I got to see these behind the scenes at Zoo Atlanta. There are NONE in private collections.

by **Bushviper** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 5:41 pm

BW I heard that one of the subspecies was considered extinct due to a massive fire that had devastated the only area where these lizards occured. I am assuming this is the same species and that these managed to survive.

San Diego would have them of course. They have everything that is rare or endangered.

Is anyone having much success with breeding them? They should be similar to the other Beaded lizards which are being bred fairly regularly?

by **horridus** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:11 am

san diego has some, off display of course, cant remember the ratios, and i also did not get any pics... i know , i am a dumb ass

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