Until recently, the scientific community thought that there were only two species of venomous lizards: The Gila monster and the Mexican Beaded lizard. However, in 2005, a team of researchers at the University of Melbourne discovered that venom in lizards is much more common than was originally thought. As of 2021, more than 100 species of lizards are known to produce at least mild venom.
The venom of the Gila monster (featured above) causes extreme pain to humans, causing paralysis, difficulty with breathing, and convulsions. Surprisingly, the venom has also been used successfully in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The Gila monster is native to the southwest regions of North America. It is one of the only venomous lizards native the the United States.
The Mexican Beaded lizard is very similar to the Gila monster, though it is slightly bigger. Both reptiles are on the endangered species list.
The revelation came when Dr. Bryan Fry, head of the international research team at the University of Melbourne's Australian Venom Research Unit, was ruminating on the swelling caused by many reptile bites. The commonly held belief at the time was that the reaction was the result of bacteria in the mouth. This theory is logical, but Dr. Fry was skeptical due to the quick reaction. When milking lizards on an expedition, the team discovered several types of toxins.
Most of the 100 newly discovered venomous lizards are monitors or iguanas.
The Komodo Dragon, the largest lizard and a member of the monitors, injects its prey with venom and follows it around until it dies. This usually takes many days.
Green Iguanas, which literally fall out of the sky in southern Florida, are another common species of venomous lizard.
Though almost all of the reptiles noted above have been held as pets, one of the most gentle and recognizable pets also secretes venom: the Bearded Dragon.
Though the idea of venom is scary, we shouldn't be any more afraid of these reptiles than we were before. There have been zero reported cases of deaths caused by lizard bites. In fact, we have good reason to be joyful! Because the venom of the Gila monster and the Mexican Beaded lizard has been effectively used as medicine, there is good reason to hope for new medical discoveries using these newly discovered toxins.
Resources:
terrifying, yet cute.