The Gila Monster

We learned about a reptile called the Gila Monster (Hee-la-mon-ster). It's scientific name is Heloderma suspectum. It is black with pink or orange stripes and can grow up to two feet long. It is one of the only types of venomous lizards along with its cousin the Mexican Beaded Lizard. It lives in deserts in the south-western United States and northern Mexico. A wild Gila monster is a solitary animal. When left alone, it lives about 20-30 years and spends around 22 hours a day hiding underground in burrows. They come out the most in the spring when it is mating season. They don't come out much because they can store fat in their tail, so they don't need to eat much.

The Gila Monster does not have many predators. Their predators are coyotes, birds of prey and humans. They will use their venom and their claws to protect themselves. Male Gila Monsters will attack each other for mates by turning to and fro, whoever gets on top of the other wins the mate. Gila monsters hunt by sneaking up on their prey (frogs, insects, birds, eggs and small rodents). They have a forked tongue and bad eyesight so they use their tongue to sense prey. They lunge and bite very hard because when they bite, their powerful jaws chew the venom in through capillary action along the grooves of their teeth. Their spit mixed with their venom can cause immense pain. Their spit has also been used for an antidote for two kinds of diabetes. Nobody has ever died from a Gila Monster bite so no need to be afraid. By Finley and Russell.