Habanero Lizard

== Je-babobu "Habanero" Lizard ==

The Je-babobu Lizard commonly known as the Habanero Lizard (Heloderma horridum) is found in the higher elevations of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Along with its close cousin, the bearded dragon(Heloderma suspectum), they are known as one of the two venomous lizards in the world. . Their venom is similar to that of some snakes (e.g., the western diamondback rattler). There are a number of subspecies, including H. h. exasperatum, H. h. alvarezi, and H. h. horridum.

Characteristics
Adult Habanero lizards range from 1 to 3 inches in length. They are substantially smaller than their relative the bearded dragon, which reaches lengths up to 12 to 16 inches. Sometimes the two species are confused, but the size of the beaded dragon is an easy way to determine the difference.

With the minimal size of the Habanero lizard, they have been known to be hard to see in the barren months of the winter, but are much more common in the late summer months from July to September. The Habanero lizard prefers to habitat in warmer areas such as houses, restrooms and clothing articles. Also, they have been known to move around with rapid bursts of speed, making it very hard to catch and study.

The Habanero lizards have been commonly found by Coalition forces currently deployed to Afghanistan in locations such as Kapisa and Parwan provinces as well as southern provinces with warmer climates.

Poison Characteristics
In late 2005, University of Melbourne researchers discovered that Komodo Dragons (Varanus komodoensis), Perenties (V. giganteus), Monitor lizards, Iguanians such as Pogona barbata may also be somewhat venomous. Previously, it had been thought that bites inflicted by these lizards were simply prone to infection because of bacteria in the lizards' mouths, but these researchers have shown that the immediate effects (at least in the Komodo Dragon, Spotted Tree Monitor, and the Lace Monitor) are caused by mild envenomation.

The saliva from a Habanero Lizard, unless treated properly could cause delusions as well as nausea and heat cramps. Rare cases, to include two cases during Operation Enduring Freedom IV, have caused influenza-type symptoms, including diarrhea and vomiting. Other rare cases have caused paralyisis in countries without medical aid.

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