The Gila Monster

Origin

The Gila monster is an extinct reptile. It can be found in the Mojave, Sonora, and Chihuahua deserts, in southwestern Utah, Southern Nevada, southeastern California, Arizona, and southwestern New Mexico, all the way to Mexico. Although protected by law, the Gila monster continues to lose ground to urban settlements and myths.
Despite its monster name (which brings us to think of a creature that lives in the depths of waters or in obscure caves), this giant lizard can be found in deserts and semi-arid areas, with sandy or stony soil and shrubs. It sits under rocks, in the burrows of other animals or in pits dug by it.
In recent decades these lizards have often been victims of human expansion, being found drowned or killed by humans. The reason? With economic and Urban Development, the territory of lizards has diminished considerably. To feed, these animals often end up in people's backyards or drown in uncovered pools.
Humans are also responsible for intentionally killing these reptiles. According to popular belief in the Indian tribes of America, the Gila monster can kill a human with one breath (a legend attributed to the Apache Indians), while the Tohono O'odham and Pima tribes believe that these reptiles make people sick through their spirits.
Of course there are legends that protect these beings, a legend says that the Gila monster has healing powers, which is why it was hunted for its skin.

Feeding The Gila Monster

When it's warm, the Gila monster FEEDS at night on small mammals, birds and eggs.
During this period, it stores fat in the tail and abdomen, which it uses in winter, when it hibernates until February or March.
Unlike other lizards, the Gila monster cannot leave part of its tail if attacked by a predator, as its tail is its food storage site.
It is lazy, but has a strong bite.
Since this lizard feeds on small beings that fail to resist it, biologists believe that its venom evolved only to defend itself, not to be used in hunting.

Features Of The Gila Monster

Gila monsters are lizards with a solid body, which grow up to 45 or even 60 cm in length. They have black, orange, pink or yellow spots, stripes and Specks, and the flattened tail is striped. The head is black and the back has scales that resemble balls.
The name of this lizard comes from the Gila River Basin in the southwestern United States.
It is one of only two extant venomous lizards, both of which are part of the family Helodermatidae. Heloderma suspectum resembles its venomous cousin, Heloderma horridum, but is somewhat smaller and lighter in color.
Most of the Gila monster's teeth have two grooves that carry the venom. The toxin is not injected, as in the case of snakes, but flows into the wound, as the lizard chews its victim.
Although a strong bite can be fatal for animals, it is not so toxic to humans as it is produced in small quantities.
Heloderma suspectum suspectum (reticulated): lives in the Sonora and Chihuahua deserts. Adults are tarred and stained.
Heloderma suspectum cinctum (striped): lives in the Mojave Desert. Adults have wide, double stripes.

Breeding The Gila Monster

It multiplies in summer. In autumn or winter, the female lays, on average, between 3 and 5 eggs, in sandy soil, in burrows or under rocks.
The incubation period lasts 9 months.
From the moment they hatch, the little lizards (which measure on average 16 cm) can bite and poison a smaller being.
Puppies reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 or 5 years.