Can Yellow Spotted Lizards Kill People?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 11, 2023

Unlike the aggressive, venomous villains featured in the movie “Holes,” specimens from Lepidophyma flavimaculatum, commonly known as yellow-spotted night lizards, cannot kill humans. Despite being among the largest night lizards, they reach only 9.5 inches in length (245 mm), and have no poisonous glands to pose any real threat.

However, according to Encyclopedia of Life, yellow-spotted night lizards are known to exert aggressive behavior when handled. They are prone to biting and sometimes lose their tails under stress or damage their nose scales. Due to the sharp teeth, a bite from this lizard can puncture the skin, causing a small bleed. While it is unlikely to be serious, the bite can be quite painful.