Contortionist Lizard?

I’m sure that most people who do not work with Heloderma are not aware that they can do this. Beaded lizards don’t tend to do it quite as dramatically as Gila monsters do, but they are all pretty flexible.


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He’s folded in half… would’ve never guessed they could do that

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That’s absolutely nuts! Double jointed maybe? :blush::upside_down_face:

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Honestly, I would think it’s dead lol :joy:. I love these guys so much.

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The first time you see it definitely gets your attention lol. I’m guessing this is something to do with their propensity to live in cracks and burrows. They’re a weird lizard. Their movement in conjunction with using their prehensile tail allows them to hold on to things surprisingly well. Their tail is so strong you can safely pick them up by it.

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I’m not as familiar with the species…so I’m wondering if it’s also possibly a threat display of sorts? Cause that belly is pretty bright.
Or a baiting technique because the tail and head are now on the same side.
Just some thoughts~

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Cant lie, I 100% would have reported this animal to the expo host if I hadnt seen this post :rofl::rofl:

“Dudes got sandwich lizards”

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Oh my gosh, I had no idea they could do that!! :rofl:

If I’d seen that at an expo, I probably would have assumed the poor thing was dead or dying. That’s so wild, who would have thought they’re so flexible!

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Holy folded lizards, Batman! That’s mind bending! How long does he hold these crazy positions? It’s got be utterly bizarre to watch him get into those angles.

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I’d almost have to imagine watching him get out of that position might be more disturbing

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Especially if it was in a dark room at night…and someone was using red bulbs still XD;;
Horror movie contortionists always amaze me with what they pull off.

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Oh wow. I always thought they were more stocky, stiff lizards. That is fascinating.

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Heloderma are definitely odd lizards. Aside from this behavior in the babies, at all life stages you often find them laying in weird positions looking dead, including on laying their backs with their legs flung out helter skelter.

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Literally probably the only lizard that I want so bad that I am going to make it happen.

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You ever get tempted to tickle their belly? :sweat_smile:

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Thats what venom labs do to make them bite

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