Gila monster

E32971

The Gila monster is a large, slow-moving venomous lizard native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

Aliases (1)

Statements (51)
Predicate Object
instanceOf species of lizard
venomous lizard
activityPattern crepuscular
diurnal
behavior slow-moving
binomialName Heloderma suspectum
bodyLength about 30–60 cm
bodyMass about 350–700 g
class Reptilia
clutchSize about 2–12 eggs
coloration black with pink or orange markings
commonName Gila monster
conservationStatus Near Threatened
conservationStatusSystem IUCN Red List
culturalSignificance iconic reptile of the American Southwest
describedBy Edward Drinker Cope
describedInYear 1869
diet birds
eggs
reptiles
small mammals
family Helodermatidae
feedingBehavior opportunistic predator
foundIn Arizona
Nevada
New Mexico
Sinaloa
Sonora
Utah
genus Heloderma
habitat arroyos
desert scrub
rocky foothills
semi-arid regions
kingdom Animalia
lifespanInCaptivity over 20 years
lifespanInWild up to about 20 years
lifestyle fossorial
maximumLength about 56–60 cm
namedAfter Gila River
nativeTo northwestern Mexico
southwestern United States
order Squamata
phylum Chordata
protectedIn United States
reproduction oviparous
skinType bead-like scales
taxonRank species
venomDelivery grooved teeth in lower jaw
venomous true
venomUse defense


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