Gila Monsters Facts

Types of Lizards Alligator Lizard Chuckwalla Clark's Spiny Lizard Desert Spiny Lizard Green Anole Komodo Dragon Rock Lizard Tree Lizard Western Fence Lizard Whiptail Lizards Zebra-tailed Lizard Lizard Pictures

Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) are large, venomous lizards, with short arms and legs.

Their head and back have bead-like scales, similar to corn on the cob. They have blotches of black, yellow, orange, or pink. The face is always black.

Moist canyons, arroyos, or washes serve are their favored habitats.

Like snakes, they use their tongues to pick up and convey scents.

Gila monsters prey on lizards, small mammals, birds, and bird and reptile eggs. The venom is only used to kill large prey. The poison flows into the open wound of the victim, unlike snakes that actually inject the poison into the victim.

The venom is not generally deadly to humans, but it does cause extreme pain, and their bite also causes pain. It is always advisable to avoid touching them.

Summer is breeding season. Females lay their eggs in specialized ground nests.

Humans predation threatens the population. They are considered to be prized possessions because of their rarity and difficulty to catch.

© 2006. Patricia A. Michaels.