How to Identify Venomous Lizards

Venomous lizards belong to the Heloderma genus, of which there are only two species; the beaded lizard and the Gila monster. They are both found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. These lizards inject venom through the grooves on teeth in their lower jaw, unlike snakes which use true fangs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Recognize venomous lizards as having scales that look like beads. The Gila monster has black, orange, pink and yellow beads arranged in complex patterns. The beaded lizard has a dark body with yellow bands on the tail.

2. Look at the general body type of venomous lizards. They have large thick bodies and heads with small eyes and a fat stumpy tail. Their legs are small in proportion to their body.

3. Watch a venomous lizard hold on tenaciously when it bites. Their venom isn't very strong so they have to continue to inject as much of it as they can. Venomous lizards probably do not use their venom on prey, relying instead on their size and strength.

4. Study the feeding habits of venomous lizards. They are unusual lizards in that they are highly opportunistic ambush predators rather than active hunters. They may only eat four to five times a year but when they do catch a meal they are capable of eating more than one-third of their body weight.

5. Observe the diet of venomous lizards in the wild. They usually eat small mammals but will also prey on birds and lizards, as well as their eggs.

Resources

• Learn more about venomous lizards at Todds Hiking Guide.