Gila Monster

The Gila monster is one of only a small number of venomous lizard species in the world, native to the arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It has a stocky body covered in bead-like scales patterned in bold black and orange or pink, and it moves slowly and deliberately, relying on its venomous bite for defense rather than speed to escape predators. Unlike venomous snakes, the Gila monster delivers venom through grooved teeth in its lower jaw by chewing rather than injecting it with a single strike, and while its bite is painful and can require medical treatment, it is rarely fatal to humans. It spends the great majority of its life sheltering underground in burrows, emerging mainly to feed on eggs, small mammals and other reptiles, and it can store large amounts of fat in its tail to survive long periods without eating. Habitat loss and illegal collection for the exotic pet trade have contributed to population declines, and the species is protected across much of its range.