Of the over 6,200 species of lizards on Earth, only 2 were thought to be venomous — the Mexican bearded lizard and the Gila monster. Much to the surprise of the herpetological world, investigations revealed that perhaps as many as 100 species of lizards produce and use venom to subdue their prey. None are so venomous that they are likely to kill humans.

Ongoing research has shown that lizards are quick learners and flexible problem solvers, performing better than some bird species.