The Gila monster, a large venomous lizard found in the southwestern United States, is not a monster at all. At roughly 20 inches from nose to tail, it is actually the largest native lizard species in North America north of Mexico. Also, the size of their tail makes up 20% of their body! Even though they are poisonous, their slow movement and sluggishness make them rarely a threat to humans. The only venomous lizard species found in the US are gila monsters.
