A TRIO of deadly beaded lizards are the newest arrivals at Blue Planet Aquarium’s Venom feature.
The captive-bred reptiles are one of the few genuinely venomous species of lizard in the world with a bite which is potentially fatal to humans.
Despite their awesome reputation the lizards’ arrival is a dream come true for Blue Planet Aquarium’s resident reptile expert James Dale.
“We are really excited to be working with these lizards; it is a species I have always dreamt of keeping ever since I first became interested in reptiles so it’s amazing to actually have the opportunity to look after them.
“The lizard's venom glands are located in the lower jaw. At the base of each tooth is a grooved pit for venom deliver.
“Unlike a snake bite, the venom is delivered by the lizard by a chewing motion. The bite from an animal is extremely painful and can be potentially fatal, but this is only in extremely rare cases.
“However we are not taking any risks. Handling is restricted to occasions when it is essential for maintenance or animal health issues and is always carried out with protective gloves.
“We also have an array of handling tools for our venomous reptiles including snake hooks, grabbers and long feeding tongs,” he added.
Native to Mexico and Guatemala, the lizards get their name from the bead-like scales that cover their head and back. They can reach lengths in excess of a metre and live for more than 30 years.
Beaded lizards are increasingly threatened in the wild by a combination of habitat loss due to human development and illegal collection for the pet trade.
