Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Reptilia |
Order | Squamata |
Genus | Chelydra |
Family | Helodermatidae |
Scientific Name | Heloderma suspectum |

Gila Monster Description
- Gila monster is the only venomous lizard endemic to the United States.
- It is a very slow-moving lazy animal.
- Gila monsters are the largest living lizards of North America.
- Monsters fancy playing in water especially in hot days of summer.
- They will live in underground burrows 90% of their daytime.
- Gila monsters eat only 5 – 9 times in a year.
- Thanks to their acute sense of smell which allows the monster to locate chicken eggs hidden 15 cm (6 in) deep down the ground.
- The Gila monsters’ venom is not fatal to adult humans.
- They spend the hottest hours in shade.
Size & Weight
Adults:
- SNOUT-TO-VENT-LENGTH: 26 to 36 cm (10 to 14 in)
- WEIGHT: 350 to 700 g (0.77 to 1.54 lb)
Largest Specimen
- LENGTH: 51 to 56 cm (20 to 22 in)
- WEIGHT: 2,300 g (5.1 lb)
Hatchlings
- LENGTH: 16 cm (6.3 in)
Habitat
Oak woodland, burrows, succulent desert, thickets, scrublands
Range
Southwestern United States, Mexico, New Mexico, Nevada, Sonora, Utah, Arizona, California
Diet
Insects, birds, carrion, mammals, lizards, frogs, reptile eggs
Reproduction
5 – 12 eggs
Mating Season
May and June
Egg-laying Period
July/August
Sexual Maturity
3 – 5 years
Lifespan
- 20 years (wild)
- 30 years (captivity)
Speed
18 km/h (11 mph)
Predators
Coyotes, raptors
Behavior
Diurnal
Conservation Status
Near Threatened