Gila Monster

One of only two known species of venomous lizards in North America, the other being the Mexican beaded lizard, the Gila monster’s name and unwarranted fearsome reputation have seen their numbers suffer, so much so that in 1952, they became the first venomous animal to be given legal protection.

Despite being a ‘monster’, it’s slow moving and sluggish nature make it barely a threat to humans. Their size can of course be quite imposing and intimidating as they measure around 20 inches in length and up to 1.8 kg in weight. The lower jaws of the Gila monster consist of venom-producing glands and they pack quite a punch with their bite.

Many myths have sprung up about the Gila monster that are patently false. Some of which include that the animal’s breath is toxic enough to kill humans, that it can spit venom like a spitting cobra and that it can leap several feet in the air to attack. Rest assured, if for some reason you found yourself being bitten by one of these lizards, it would certainly be painful but far from deadly.