Gila monster

The Gila monster is a venomous, slow-moving lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It is one of the few venomous lizards.

Gila monster venom: A complex mixture of compounds delivered through grooves in the Gila monster’s lower teeth. Venom enters prey through chewing rather than through hollow, injection-style fangs.
Helodermatidae: The lizard family containing the Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard. This small family includes the only living venomous lizards.
Exenatide: A GLP-1 receptor agonist medication derived from exendin-4 and used to treat type 2 diabetes. The drug translates a peptide discovered in Gila monster saliva into diabetes treatment.
Mexican beaded lizard: A venomous lizard native to Mexico and Guatemala, closely related to the Gila monster. It is the Gila monster’s nearest living relative and the other member of its family.
Exendin-4: A peptide first isolated from Gila monster saliva that activates the GLP-1 receptor. A saliva molecule became the basis for a widely used diabetes drug.
Squamata: The reptile order that includes lizards and snakes. The Gila monster belongs to the largest living group of reptiles.
GLP-1 receptor agonist: A drug that activates the receptor for glucagon-like peptide-1 to help regulate blood glucose and appetite. Exendin-4’s medical value comes from its action on this receptor.
Gila monster bite: A painful bite in which a Gila monster grips with its jaws and introduces venom through grooved teeth. Its defensive bite is prolonged and can cause severe pain and other symptoms.
Brumation: A period of reduced activity and metabolism in reptiles during cold conditions. Seasonal inactivity helps the lizard conserve energy when temperatures fall.
Reptile: A vertebrate in the major amniote lineage that includes turtles, lizards, snakes, and crocodilians. Its ectothermy and scaly skin are shared broadly across reptiles.

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