They're fast.
They're sticky.
And they are deadly.
These lizards can chase you on land,
water
and even air.
Their camouflage helps them
hide in the wild.
They could be next to you right now.
With sharp claws and teeth,
and scaly skin,
these reptiles can look threatening.
And although these creatures don't usually
attack for no reason,
when they do,
it can be painful,
traumatic and deadly.
Today we'll take a look at the five
most dangerous lizards,
where to find them,
and how to avoid getting killed.
Whether you're a tourist
stranded in a jungle,
a curious visitor at a zoo,
or if you like to own exotic pets,
a lizard attack could happen
to almost anyone.
We'll start our countdown
in North America.
This lizard lives in Arizona,
California, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico,
and Mexico's Sonora and Sinaloa states.
They're black with orange or beige
with black blotches,
which help it blend into its surroundings.
Its big tail stores fat,
allowing it to survive for months
without eating.
Gila monsters are relatively small lizards,
approximately 50 cm (20 in) long
and weighing about 2 kg (4 lb).
They bite their victims and grip them.
Then they chew on the wound
so their teeth can deliver the venom
in their jaws.
The venom contains a mild neurotoxin
that's about as strong as
rattlesnake venom.
Some deaths may have occurred
many decades ago
before people realized how potent
the Gila's venom is.
But the last suspected human death
from a Gila monster's bite
happened in 1939.
These lizards, along with its close relative,
the Gila Monster,
are the only two species of
poisonous lizards in the world.
They live in the Mexican states of Sinaloa,
Sonora
and most of Mexico's Pacific coast
down to the Guatemala border.
They're black or brown with white spots
and bead-like scales.
And they grow up to 80 cm (31 in) long.
Just like their cousins,
the Mexican beaded lizard has sharp teeth
and strong jaws.
When they lock onto their prey,
they release venom through the funnels
on their grooved teeth.
Their bites can be painful,
but they mainly use their venom
to defend themselves against predators.
These tree-dwelling lizards
are found near many sub-Saharan
African rivers,
including the Nile.
They are brownish or greenish-gray,
giving them camouflage
in their environment.
The Nile monitor has big claws
and a strong tail,
making it a great swimmer and climber,
as these lizards live in swamps,
woodlands
and other habitats.
They weigh about 20 kg (44 lb)
and can be up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long.
These big lizards are solitary creatures,
which means they can get
incredibly aggressive if you
approach them.
They often eat eggs, fish and rodents.
But their sharp teeth and powerful jaws
can do great harm to a human.
The venom in their saliva is not strong
enough to kill a person,
but their violent attacks
could end a child's or small pet's life.
This is the most common
species of iguana.
It inhabits various regions
throughout Mexico and South America,
particularly Brazil.
And it is easy to find them
in many parts of the United States,
where people keep them as pets.
Male green iguanas can grow up
to 2 m (6.6 ft)
and weigh as much as 6 kg (13 lb).
If you provoke or agitate a green iguana,
it can seriously injure you.
It will use its dozens of
sharply serrated teeth,
pointy claws
and whip its tail against your skin.
Sometimes iguanas will warn you
by lowering the flap of skin
beneath their chins, called a dewlap,
and inhaling to appear bigger.
And older male iguanas are more likely
to act aggressively.
In 2017, in Miami,
Amanda Gray's pet iguana attacked her.
She was trying to feed Igmo
when the iguana attacked her
with its sharp nails.
Amanda got several facial injuries
and required stitches.
The iguana got another home
with a more experienced handler.
Before going to our number one
deadly lizard,
let's see how you could survive
the beasts we've seen so far.
To escape from the Mexican beaded lizard
or the Gila Monster,
pry them off.
You can usually do this
by holding the lizard's torso
and forcefully removing them.
If one bites you,
immediately wash the injured area
and seek medical attention.
If you see a Nile monitor,
stay away, and stay on land.
Don't try to escape by swimming
or climbing a tree
because they will be faster than you are.
Also, keep small children and pets
away from them.
If you have a pet green iguana,
keep its nails clipped.
And wear thick falconry gloves
when you handle it.
If you get bitten,
immediately clean the wound
using soap and water or saline solution,
and apply an antibiotic ointment.
Then cover the wound with a bandage,
and go to a hospital's emergency room.
If you have an iguana
that acts aggressively,
consider giving it
to a more experienced handler.
And now for our lizard heavyweight.
Komodo Dragons are native
to Komodo island and other islands
throughout Indonesia.
Most of them are in
Komodo National Park.
They can be 3 m long (10 ft)
and as heavy as 166 kg (366 lb).
They will often ambush animals
like wild boars and deer.
Biting injects venom into their prey,
and its blot clotting inhibitor
slowly causes shock in the victim.
A Komodo dragon's mouth also transfers
infectious bacteria,
which overtakes the animal’s
immune system
The dragon will follow its victim,
and once it is extremely weak,
the Komodo eats it.
Alive or dead.
These big dragons can run incredibly fast,
and they have chased
and attacked humans.
If you want to survive on Komodo Island,
don't leave the park's trails,
don't make loud noises
and stick with your group.
This massive lizard hunts prey
that is alone.
Komodo dragons can smell blood
from kilometers or miles away,
so menstruating women
and people with open wounds
should stay away from the park.
If one chases you,
run in a zig-zag pattern
to confuse the dragon,
as they can only run in a straight line.
If you get bitten and you're bleeding,
soon there will be more hungry lizards
looking for you.
So try to leave the place
and get medical help immediately.
You survived the most dangerous lizards,
even having one as a pet.
But some people don't stop there
and go as far as having tigers
or bears as pets.
Would you have a poisonous snake
as your loyal companion?
We have a video that could make you
change your mind,
right here.