Here is another couple of photos to show the amount of pattern, color, and physical change a beaded lizard can through in a year. The first picture is of a Heloderma h. exasperatum at 1 month of age when I acquired it from the breeder, Steve Angeli.
The second picture is the same beaded lizard at one year from the date of the first picture. Notice how all the brownish yellow ground color when it was a hatchling has become vibrant yellow.
The difference between this ontogenic change and that of a gila monster is for the most part the entire body of the beaded lizard has become lighter color. The only areas where dark pigmentation appeared is on the tail.
In the case of a gila monster for the most part the ground color of a gila monster get lighter with age. Once they begin their coplor change at 6 months they usually go from whitish cream to either yellow, pink, or orange. Once this color is set it stays stable but the same color can begin to appear in the dark pigmentation of the pattern. In addition dark pigmentation,black or in some case brown, can appear in the ground color throughout the body.
After years of breeding and raising gilas I am really enjoying the differences between them and their southern cousins. Not to mention the size difference. LOL.
Enjoy and thanks again Steve.
Kevin
