Gila monster
Beaded desert reptile
A Gila monster is a large venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Heavy-bodied with beaded black and orange or pink scales, it is one of only two venomous lizards in North America.
The bite is painful but rarely fatal to humans.
Named for the Gila River basin in Arizona.
Plates or weighing devices
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
- tailRear animal appendage
- beadedAdorned with small spheres
- bandedHaving encircling marks
black · orange · pink · yellow · slow-moving · stocky · forked tongue · herpetology
Of a specific southwestern desert
- Arizona48th state admitted
- New MexicoSouthwestern U.S. state
- aridDevoid of water
- saguaroColumnar desert cactus
creosote · yucca · mesquite · burrow · arroyo · mesa · canyon · rocky
Injected animal poison
- bitePierce with teeth
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
- chewingCrushing food orally
- glandsSecreting organs
neurotoxin · toxin · painful · swelling · antivenom · defensive · medical research · diabetes
Kept from harm
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
- rareSeldom found or seen
- elusiveHard to find
habitat loss · CITES · captive breeding · population decline · secretive · solitary · monitoring · preservation
scales
Plates or weighing devices
banded · black · orange · pink · yellow · slow-moving · stocky · forked tongue · herpetology · saurian
Sonoran
Of a specific southwestern desert
- Arizona48th state admitted
- New MexicoSouthwestern U.S. state
- aridDevoid of water
saguaro · creosote · yucca · mesquite · burrow · arroyo · mesa · canyon · rocky · xerophyte
venom
Injected animal poison
- bitePierce with teeth
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
- chewingCrushing food orally
glands · neurotoxin · toxin · painful · swelling · antivenom · defensive · medical research · diabetes · peptide
protected
Kept from harm
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
- rareSeldom found or seen
elusive · habitat loss · CITES · captive breeding · population decline · secretive · solitary · monitoring · preservation
- desertsand, sand dunes, sand dune, dune, dunes
- reptileslizard, snake, turtle, crocodile, alligator
- North American Naturebald eagle, American bison, bison, grizzly bear, raccoon
- cold-blooded animalsalligator, crocodile, lizard, snake, turtle
- lizardslizard, lizards, gecko, geckos, chameleon
- Mexican Wildlifejaguar, ocelot, axolotl, vaquita, Mexican wolf
Gila monsterleopard gecko
Spotted nocturnal pet lizard
bearded dragon · green iguana · anole · chameleon · monitor lizard
Gila monstersnake
Limbless scaled reptile
serpent · rattlesnake · python · legless lizard · king cobra