毒蜥屬（）是毒蜥科下的唯一屬，包含了分佈在美國西南部、墨西哥及南至瓜地馬拉有毒的蜥蜴。其下有5個物種。牠們的近親是蛇蜥科。
特徵
毒蜥屬的體型很大及粗壯，行動緩慢，喜歡棲息在乾旱的地區。尾巴很短，是儲存脂肪的器官。身體由細小及不重疊的鱗片覆蓋，底部有皮內成骨。兩個物種都呈深色，有黃色或粉紅色的斑紋。
毒蜥屬是肉食性的，主要吃齧齒目及其他細小的哺乳動物，也會吃鳥蛋及爬行類（每年只吃五至十餐）。牠們是卵生的，每次會產一大堆蛋。
飼養
在很多不同的動物園內有飼養墨西哥毒蜥、恰帕斯珠毒蜥及美國毒蜥的兩個亞種。牠們也是寵物貿易的常客，且價值連城。墨西哥毒蜥的另外兩個亞種非常稀少，已知只有少量被飼養的。
保育狀況
除被列入附录Ⅰ的亚种外的所有种均被列為《瀕危野生動植物種國際貿易公約》附錄二的物種，被限制出口及貿易。
參考
- Ariano-Sánchez, D. 2008. Envenomation by a wild Guatemalan beaded lizard Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti. Clinical toxicology 46 (9): 897-899. [http://www.informapharmascience.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15563650701733031]
- Ariano-Sánchez, D. & G. Salazar. 2007. Notes on the distribution of the endangered lizard, Heloderma horridum charlesbogerti, in the dry forests of eastern Guatemala: an application of multi-criteria evaluation to conservation. Iguana 14: 152-158. [http://www.scribd.com/doc/11116925/Ariano-D-y-G-Salazar-2007-Notes-on-the-Distribution-of-the-Endangered-Lizard-Heloderma-horridum-charlesbogerti-in-the-Dry-Forests-of-Eastern-Gu]
- Ariano-Sánchez, D. 2006. The Guatemalan beaded lizard: endangered inhabitant of a unique ecosystem. Iguana 13: 178-183. [http://www.scribd.com/doc/11117893/Ariano-D-2006-The-Guatemalan-beaded-lizard-Endangered-inhabitant-of-a-unique-ecosystem-Iguana-133-178183]
- CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA. 2007. Resume of the 14th Convention of the Parts. The Hague. The Netherlands. [http://www.ssn.org/Meetings/cop/cop14/Other/CoP14_results.pdf]
- Heloderma Project ZOO ATLANTA, IRCF, ZOOTROPIC, project [http://www.ircf.org/projectheloderma/index.php]
外部連結
*[http://www.helodermahorridum.com/beaded_lizard.php About Beaded Lizards]
*[http://herpetology.com/heloderma.html Heloderma information]
*[http://www.jcvi.org/reptiles/families/helodermatidae.php Family Helodermatidae (Gila Monsters)]
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