Are there poisonous lizards? 0 25

Only two species of lizards from the family Helodermatidae, found in the dry steppes and semi-deserts of Arizona and Mexico, are considered poisonous. One of them, the Gila monster, is a fairly large reptile, reaching up to 60 cm in length, with a bright orange-yellow or red-brown pattern. The second, the Mexican beaded lizard, is even larger, with some individuals' body length reaching nearly a meter.

Both species of Helodermatidae hide in burrows and among rocks during the day, preferring to be nocturnal. With the onset of darkness, they leave their shelters and hunt for slow-moving arthropods, newborn rodents, chicks, and bird eggs.

During dry periods, these lizards take refuge in burrows, feeding on fat reserves stored in their tails. The bites of these reptiles are very painful and act similarly to snake bites. For small animals, the venom of the Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard can be fatal, while in humans it usually causes severe swelling but can, in rare cases, lead to death.