Gila Monster

A species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, the Gila Monster derives its name from the Gila River Basin that crosses the states of New Mexico and Arizona. It is a heavy, sluggish reptile and the only venomous lizard native to the United States.

The Gila Monster prefers regions with ready access to moisture and avoids living in open areas such as flats and farmland. It spends nearly 90% of its time underground in burrows or rocky shelters, which means that its surface body temperature averages around 30 degrees Celsius, an adaptation to the heat.

Often a favorite snack of coyotes and raptors, the Gila Monster itself has a diet that consists primarily of bird and reptile eggs. Juveniles, for instance, are able to consume over 50% of their body weight at one time. And this species can survive for months without food due to its ability to store fat in its large tail.