14 DAY TRIAL // According to a study carried out by Dr. Bryan Fry of the Melbourne University, the number of lizard species which produce venom is much higher than previously thought.
This discovery infirmed the theory which said that pain and swelling associated with the lizard bites were caused by the bacteria found in the pieces of meat left between their teeth.
"The venom is the perfect knock-out punch by monitor lizards to their prey like small mammals and lizards", he told Reuters. It stops blood clotting, rapidly drops blood pressure and heightens the feeling of bite pain.
Together with his team, Bryan Fry identified crotamine, the venom used by rattlesnakes, in a species of iguanas ("the eastern bearded dragon") which is widely available in pet stores.
Fortunately for the lizard lovers, the system through which the eastern bearded dragon delivers its venom is primitive, and the small quantity of venom does not affect humans.
According to the researchers, the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard in the world (160 kilograms), is also venomous.
So far, only two species of reptiles capable of injecting venom have been known, advanced snakes and Helodermatid lizards.
"There are so many more reptiles with venom now than we previously thought. That fact itself has massive implications for a vast array of areas, whether it be evolution, drug design and development or ecology", Fry said.