The Deadly Gila Monster B y Damien William Vansaghi

General Information The Gila Monster is in the reptile group. It’s scientific name is Heloderma Suspectum. It lives up to 20 years.

Physical Characteristics IT’s usually black and orange. It’s 12 to 16 inches and weighs 10 to 11 lbs. It has scales for a covering. It has venomous glands that form poisonous saliva and it’s tail can stores fat in it’s tail to feed on later.

Habitat The Gila monster lives in dry places like the Southwestern U.S and Northern Mexico and some desserts. It lives in windy, dry, low growing, and rocky places.

Behaviors It can eat small mammals, bird eggs, and other reptiles. When it hunts it smells the air, finds it’s prey, strikes, and devours it’s prey. And it lays eggs. It can have up to 13 eggs.

Interesting Facts The Gila Monsters venom works on bird eggs and mammals but has little effect on frogs. It can absorb warmth through it’s skin. It’s one of the 2 venomous lizards.