Helodermatidae
| Helodermatidae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) | |
| |
| Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Clade: | Monstersauria |
| Family: | Helodermatidae Gray, 1837 |
| Genera | |
The Helodermatidae or beaded lizards are a small family of lizards endemic to North America today, but formerly more widespread in the ancient past. Traditionally, the Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard are the only species recognized, although the latter has recently been split into several species.[1]
While the fossil record of this family may date back to as far as the Cretaceous with genera such as Primaderma and Paraderma of North America, the oldest definitive members of the Helodermatidae date to the Early Oligocene, with Lowesaurus matthewi from North America (Nebraska) and Euheloderma gallicum from Europe (France).[2]
References
- ^ "(PDF) Taxonomic reassessment and conservation status of the beaded lizard, Heloderma horridum (Squamata: Helodermatidae)". Researchgate.net. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-13-93. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Bhullar, B.; Smith, K.T. (2008). "Helodermatid Lizard from the Miocene of Florida, the Evolution of the Dentary in Helodermatidae, and Comments on Dentary Morphology in Varanoidea". Journal of herpetology. 42 (2): 286–302. doi:10.1670/07-185.1.