Gila Monster

venomous reptile · southwest desert · slow-moving

Venomous but chill. The Gila monster makes venom, but it's actually pretty lazy and rarely hurts people. It's so slow-moving that it barely poses a threat to humans.

Hefty desert dweller. These lizards can grow up to 22 inches long, making them chunky, heavy reptiles that move through the Southwestern deserts.

USA's only venomous lizard. While there are other venomous lizards called beaded lizards living in Mexico and Guatemala, the Gila monster is the sole venomous lizard found naturally in the United States.

Protected but feared. Even though Gila monsters are protected by Arizona state law, people sometimes kill them because they have gotten a scary reputation that they don't really deserve.