Gila Monsters are one of a very few poisonous lizards in the world and the largest lizard native to the United States. The gila (pronounced Hee-luh) can be up to two feet long and weigh over five pounds. They can live up to 30 years in their native habitat.You can see a gila monster here.
They have black bodies and scales with blotches of pink, orange or yellow. They are bulky and move slow. They have a thick forked tongue and hiss and snort in warning. They have strong jaws that clamp down on their prey and release the venom into the victim through grooved teeth in their bottom jaw.
The Gila Monster live in dry climates such as the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. They feed on eggs raided from bird nests and newborn rabbits and squirrels. They spend most of their time underground and only surface to look for food.
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