The Gila Monster

Some of the great myths about the Gila Monster (pronounced he-la) are: their breath is poisonous, they don't have an anus because the poison is made from their own waste products (or conversely, they are poisonous because they don't have an anus), if one bites you it won't let go until it hears thunder or the sun sets, they can spit venom, and they can leap into the air and sting you with a poisonous tongue. As usual, none of these are true. (If you are so inclined, you will find an anus if you look.) The Gila Monster is North America's only poisonous lizard.…