Gruesome Little Monster Goes on View. (4 November, 1996)

Even the Mexican bearded lizard's mother must find it hard to love her offspring. Scientists refer to the species, Hellodema horridum, as 'horrible snakeskin', but the Transvaal Snake Park, which recently acquired four 50 cm 2-year-olds, labelled them 'grotesque reptiles'. Into the bargain, they are one of only two venomous lizards in the world. The snake park's General Manager Dave Morgan said he had received the 'very valuable' threatened species from a San Diego zoo as part of an international transfer scheme.

The carnivorous lizards are currently thriving on a diet of chicks, mice, dog food, eggs and vitamins. 'Two big mice every second day suits them just fine,' Morgan said. They will reach sexual maturity in about eight years' time, when, it is hoped, the hatched eggs will boost the zoo's current collection of 700 reptiles. This venomous creature's bite is similar to that of a puff-adder. By Shirley Woodgate. Courtesy of The Star.