The Zoo has five beaded lizards, three males and two females.
Three beaded lizards (one female and two males) hatched at Birmingham Zoo and arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo on November 17, 2004. The female hatched on March 7, 1998 and the two males hatched on February 13, 1996 and February 26, 1997.
The third male hatched in the wild and has been at the Philadelphia Zoo since February 16, 1978. The second female hatched in the wild in Mexico and has been at the Zoo since June 2, 2002.
The males are on exhibit together. The females are off-exhibit.
The beaded lizard is a large lizard that can be black or brown in color with yellow spots or bands. The tail can be black or brown with a ringed pattern of alternating dark and yellow banding.
Longevity
30+ years
Behavior
The beaded lizard is active during the cooler periods of the day (morning, dusk, late after noon, and at night).
Reproduction
The mating season takes place in September and October. Females lay 2-15 eggs that hatch in 10 -12 months
To learn more about the conservation efforts at the Philadelphia Zoo, click here.