Gila Monster

Did You Know?

A fun fact about the Gila monster is that a protein from its venom, exendin-4, led to the creation of a diabetes drug (Byetta) that helps control blood sugar, showing how this venomous lizard's bite can save lives. They are also one of the few truly venomous lizards in the world, spend most of their lives underground, and store fat in their tails to survive long periods between meals.