Fun Facts for Kids on the Gila Monster

The Gila monster is one of only two poisonous lizards in the world. It is the largest lizard native to the United States and is predominately found in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah. It is considered a vulnerable species, and was the first venomous animal in the United States to receive legal protection.

  1. Appearance

    • The body of the Gila monster is covered with black and yellow or pink scales. It has four legs and a short, thick tail with black rings. Each foot has five toes and sharp claws. The adult Gila monster is 18 to 22 inches long and weighs around 3 pounds. It has a large head with a wide mouth.

    Temperament

    • The Gila monster is often thought to be a threat to humans. However, the lizard is predominately inactive and fears human interaction. The Gila monster is inactive most of the time and hides in burrows or under rocks. They avoid open areas whenever possible, and prefer areas with little moisture, such as deserts. When a human approaches, the Gila monster will most likely retreat to its burrow and hide.

    Nourishment

    • The Gila monster is a carnivore that is not very fast and does not have good eyesight. It uses its senses of taste and smell to hunt. The Gila's forked tongue is used to pick up scent particles in the air and follow prey such as birds, frogs, lizards and worms. The lizard does not chew its food, but swallows it whole. Gila monsters only hunt in the spring and store fat and nourishment in their tails to stay alive during colder months. During the summer, the Gila monster only comes out in the evening and avoids the hot sun.

    Venom

    • The Gila monster produces venom in glands in the lower jaw. When it bites prey, venom is released through small groves in the teeth. The Gila monster will not loosen its grip on prey for several seconds, as the venom is slow-flowing. It is thought that a Gila monster's venom is used more for protection than hunting, since the lizards strong bite is powerful enough to overcome most of its prey. When the lizard feels threatened, it will open its mouths wide and hiss to scare off predators. If a human is bitten by a Gila monster, it is painful but rarely fatal.

    Life Cycle

    • The female Gila monster lays eggs in early summer. She digs a shallow hole and lays three to 15 eggs. She covers the eggs with sand and allows the heat from the sun to incubate them. Hatchings emerge from the hole in four months and measure 4 inches long. A Gila monster lives for approximately 20 years.

    Other Interesting Fact

    • In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration approved Byetta, a medication to manage type 2 diabetes. Byetta is based on protein from Gila monster saliva.