Facts about Lizard

Anolis carolinensis, a common lizard of North America, can change color and is often called a chameleon, but true chameleons are limited to Africa and Madagascar.

The venom of the gila monster and beaded lizard is not deadly, but they can inflict extremely painful bites due to powerful jaws.

Lizard is any of the numerous reptiles of the suborder Sauria (or Lacertilia) of the order Squamata.

Only the very largest lizard species pose threat of death; the Komodo dragon, for example, has been known to attack and kill humans and their livestock.

The most familiar example is the chameleon, but more subtle color changes occur in other lizard species as well (most notably the anole, also known as the "house chameleon" or "chamele").

Until very recently, it was thought that only two lizard species were venomous: the Mexican beaded lizard and the closely-related Gila monster, both of which live in northern Mexico and the southwest United States.

Before this discovery, swelling and bleeding from lizard bites was believed due to bacterial infection but is now known to be due to venom injection.

The venom of the gila monster and beaded lizard is not deadly, but they can inflict extremely painful bites due to powerful jaws.