![]() ![]() The more water, the bigger the tail, and the healthier the Gila monster! Gila monster venom In fact, when evaluating Gila monster fitness, scientists actually dunk the lizard’s tail in a cylinder of water to see how much liquid is displaced. ( How climate change is affecting Gila monsters.) In between feedings, which can be extremely infrequent, Gila monsters survive on fat stored inside their tails. Sometimes, the lizards will even climb tall cacti in search of bird nests and the tasty treats they contain. Lack of suitable burrows may actually limit how many Gila monsters are in a given area, says Jones.įavorite Gila monster foods include bird, tortoise, and snake eggs, as well as newborn bunnies and ground squirrels. Although celebrated as one of Arizona’s most recognized animals, Gila monsters are physiologically ill adapted for the Sonoran Desert. The colorful Gila monster is threatened by increasingly hot and dry weather. Jason Jones, state herpetologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, says that some lizards will use the same burrows year after year, and that during the mating season, multiple Gila monsters may share a burrow. However, they will also make use of burrows already on the landscape. With most of their lives spent below ground, Gila monsters use their long claws to dig burrows. They inhabit dry areas, such as the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts. Gila monsters are native to the American Southwest and Northwestern Mexico. While the species is often described as strictly nocturnal, above-ground sightings during the day do also occur. However, some radiotracking work has revealed that the animals will, on occasion, travel more than a mile at a time in search of food or possibly mates. Gila monsters spend more than 90 percent of their lives below ground, which makes them difficult for scientists to research. Osteoderms, or tiny chips of bone embedded within the skin, give the lizards a degree of protection against predators, such as coyotes and hawks. Gila monsters appear pebbly in appearance due to a living coat of armor. Along with their close cousins, the beaded lizards, Gila monsters belong to one of the only families of venomous lizards on Earth. The Gila monster (pronounced HEE-luh) is a small, striking lizard with black scales and an array of orange stripes and spots. Current Population Trend: Decreasing What is a Gila monster? ![]()
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