Some countries have a bounty of animal species in one particular group: Peru and Columbia, for example, have the most butterfly species of any country. By contrast, North America has only two species of venomous lizard and only one is found in the United States – the Gila monster.
Description:
The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) is the largest lizard in the States and can grow to 56 centimeters (22 inches) long, according to the National Park Service. They can also weigh around 1.8 kilograms (4 pounds).
Not dissimilar to a Muller Corner yogurt, the surface of the lizard’s skin is covered with small bead-like protrusions in a wide range of orange or pinky stripes and patterns. These scaley beads are actually called osteoderms and are tiny hard chips of tissue embedded within the skin for protection against predators such as bobcats, coyotes, hawks, and foxes.
Ecology:
As National Geographic explains, Gila monsters live underground lives and are strictly nocturnal. They use their long claws to dig burrows, and will return to the same burrows year after year. They live mostly in Arizona and Mexico though they are found in other American states, and their name comes from the Gila River. They are found in the Sonoran Desert, the Chihuahuan Desert, and the Mojave Desert across the US.
The diet of the Gila monster is varied, consisting of birds, reptile eggs, and occasionally small mammals – they are even known to climb cacti in search of bird eggs. Inside the tail of a Gila monster is a fat store that helps keep them alive when prey is scarce in the winter.
Typically solitary, Gila monsters can be found together in the breeding season. Clutches generally contain two to 12 eggs and can overwinter in the burrow and hatch after 130 days. The Gila monster is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, but the population is thought to be declining due to habitat destruction and illegal exploitation by commercial and private collectors.
Venom:
The Gila monster’s venom is made by a row of glands in the lower jaw of the lizard, small grooves in each of its teeth help the venom make its way into prey. Typically though, it is thought that the venom is more often used defensively than when hunting prey species. A man died earlier this year after being bitten by his pet Gila, it is thought that he suffered an allergic reaction to the venom, which while said to be painful is not typically fatal to humans.
In fact, research has even looked into if compounds from the venom could be used to help treat diabetes in the future.
