Gila monsters are the largest lizards native to North America, but they're less than two feet long.
They live in the deserts of Mexico and the southwestern U.S., preying on the young of small mammals, nestling birds, and bird and tortoise eggs that they find in mesquite scrub. They are stout-bodied lizards with short legs and a short, fat tail. They're covered with bright irregular markings, usually pink, yellow or white, against black or brown scales. They are shy, retiring creatures unless they're provoked. In humans, their bite can result in severe pain and even death.