Personal Information
The Zoo’s beaded lizard, Guapo, was born in 1972 and weighs 14 pounds. While a sluggish animal most of the time, the beaded lizard can become aggressive when taken out into the sun. His name means handsome in Spanish.
Status in the Wild
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status: Least concern. Mexican authorities state the bearded lizard’s status as threatened. Deforestation and human persecutions are two reasons for the population decline. However, the beaded lizard is protected under Mexican law and in Guatemala.
Habitat
The beaded lizard lives in tropical deciduous forests and tropical scrubland.
Diet
The beaded lizard eats other lizards, bird eggs, and occasionally rodents and small mammals.