Conservation
The beaded lizard is surrounded by myth and superstition in much of its native range. It is incorrectly believed, for example, that the lizard is more venomous than a rattlesnake, that it can cause lightning strikes with its tail, or make a pregnant woman miscarry by merely looking at it. As a result of this superstition, locals often kill the lizard on sight.
The seldom seen lizard is poached for resale through the illegal exotic animal trade. It does not reproduce well in captivity, and its scarcity means a high price for collectors. As a direct result, the beaded lizard is protected by Mexican law under the category A (Threatened), and it dwells within the range of several protected areas. In Guatemala it is protected by national legislation, and part of their range is within protected areas. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
Fewer than 200 individual animals remain in the dry forest habitat of the Motagua Valley and this subspecies of beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti) was facing extinction due to local extermination and loss of habitat for agricultural purposes. A conservation effort has been launched known as Project Heloderma in order to preserve the semi-arid habitat of the Motagua Valley by The Nature Conservancy and partners such as ZOOTROPIC, CONAP, the IRCF (International Reptile Conservation Foundation), Lincoln Park Zoo, Zoo Atlanta, and the San Diego Zoo. This effort has been successful in getting the Guatemalan government to list the beaded lizard under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as an Appendix I animal, making it illegal to export the species.
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