venomous lizard

The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) is one of two species of venomous lizards native to North America. This stout-bodied reptile, found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, has distinctive black and pink blotches and beadlike scales. It primarily feeds on small mammals, birds, and eggs at night, storing fat in its tail and abdomen for leaner winter months.1

The Gila monster possesses a strong bite, with grooved teeth that conduct venom from glands in its lower jaw into the wound. This venom is a nerve poison, though fatalities to humans are rare. A closely related species, the Mexican beaded lizard (H. horridum), shares similar predatory habits and venom delivery but is slightly larger and darker.1