Gila, << HEE luh, >> monster is a large lizard with a venomous bite. It lives primarily in the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The Gila monster is unusual among lizards for producing venom (poison).
The Gila monster usually grows about 19 inches (48 centimeters) long. It has a stout body, broad blunt head, and stumpy tail. The head and body have black blotches on a background of orange or salmon. Fat is stored in the animal’s abdomen and thick tail. The Gila monster can live on this stored-up fat for months without eating.
Gila monsters come out at night in summer. They are active during the day in spring and fall. They hibernate in winter. Gila monsters move slowly but can travel long distances. They eat bird and reptile eggs and young mammals.
The Gila monster has a powerful venom. It uses the venom mainly to defend itself against predators (hunting animals). The venom is secreted along grooves in the teeth of the lower jaw. When the lizard bites a victim, these grooves carry venom into the wound. The bites are painful but not deadly to people.
