When springtime comes, they begin to hunt again.Īs carnivores, Gila monsters do not have very good eyesight when they hunt, they use their senses of taste and smell. Good climbers, Gila monsters are often found fairly high up in cholla cactus foraging for bird eggs in nests.ĭuring cold winter months, Gila monsters stay in burrows dug with their stout claws or even burrows of desert tortoises and have fat stores in their tail to keep them alive during this time. Their speed is not great, but the monsters keep at it. Gila monsters walk high on their short legs, with the tail clear of the ground and swinging from side to side for balance, in what looks like an awkward gait.
Gila monsters may be active at night if temperatures are extremely hot during the day or be crepuscular or diurnal if the temperature is optimal for them. The lizards can adjust their behavior according to the temperature. Gila monster burrows are commonly found in rocky foothills, as they avoid open areas. Gila monsters are solitary and live in desert and semi-desert areas with just enough moisture to support a few shrubs. To warn off potential predators, they open their mouth very wide and hiss. The biggest problem you might have if a Gila monster bit you is trying to get the lizard to release its grip! But you really shouldn't worry, as Gila monsters tend to avoid humans and other large wildlife. It may even chew so that the venom goes deeper into the wound.Ī Gila monster bite is painful to humans, but it rarely causes death. The bite of a Gila monster is very strong, and the lizard may not loosen its grip for several seconds. When the lizard bites, small grooves in the teeth help the venom flow into its prey. The Gila monster is venomous its venom is made by a row of glands in the lizard’s lower jaw. Gila monsters are heavy-bodied lizards covered with beadlike scales, called osteoderms, that are black and yellow or pink covering all but their belly. We’re glad you’re reading this, to learn the truth about these interesting lizards! It has been accused of many things, such as spitting venom, leaping several feet in the air to attack, stinging with its tongue, and killing people with gusts of poisonous breath. This lizard is often feared and has been described as frightful and repulsive, especially in local folklore. What's in a name? As the name might suggest, the Gila (pronounced HEE-la) monster has one of the worst reputations in the reptile world.
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