Gila Monster

A Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) is a venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It is one of only two venomous lizard species in the world and is known for its stout body and vibrant, beaded skin. 🦎

Gila monsters have a heavy, low-slung body with a thick tail where they store fat. Their skin is covered in a pattern of black and orange or pink scales that are beaded, giving them a bumpy texture. They have a blunt head and a short, forked tongue that they use to "smell" their surroundings.

Gila monsters are found in arid habitats, including deserts and scrublands. They are carnivores, and their diet consists of a wide variety of animals, including eggs, small mammals, and young birds. They are a very slow-moving animal but are a powerful predator.

The Gila monster's venom is not injected through fangs like a snake, but instead, it is chewed into the wound through grooved teeth on its lower jaw. While the venom is painful, it is not fatal to humans. They are a solitary, slow-moving animal that spends up to 95% of its life underground in burrows. They can go for long periods without food, living off the fat stored in their tails.