does anyone know anything about gila monsters?

Question

and please no wikipedia links.

please don't copy wikipedia (cough maxie cough)

Answer 1

yeeeess... what did you want to know? They are from the family Helodermatidae... related to the beaded lizard... They used to be considered the only venomous lizards but it's been discovered in the last year or so that Agamids and monitor lizards possess venom as well... I did a term paper on the subject. Interestingly enough these 3 families fill in one branch on the lizard cladogram (evolutionary tree), meaning that venom in lizards can be traced back to a common ancestor, which is pretty freaking awesome. Gila/beaded venom is really the only lizard venom that could do any damage... would hurt QUITE a bit, but they have to chew on you for a while as the venom from the lower jaw flows through grooves in their mouths. Also, they're pretty dang cute!

Answer 2

Gila lizards as they are more properly know are the only poisonous lizard in the United States. They live in the Southwest. Unlike snakes they do not inject venom through fangs, but chew and release venom into the wound. They are usually black with yellow, orange, or red stripe like markings. They are protected so collecting or harassing them will get you into trouble.

Answer 3

I know they are from the deserts of the southwest. I have always thought they were cool looking. They have an extremely stong bite it has been known to go right through boot leather. They don't like to let go either. There venom will not really kill you unless you have complications with it but It burns like he doubble hockey sticks for days. I saw them being fed mice at the Toledo zoo one time and they were surprizingly quick for a slow looking lizard. They were using 3 foot forceps to feed them. I do not believe they drink water, if misted maybe but they get it from their food. I was thinking of getting one once. I saw them being raised in metal horse and cow water tubs with sand and rocks and a heat lamp. I was doing alot of checking on www.kingsnake.com about them. I know they go for $1200 to $1500 a piece then. Very interesting lizards. As mentioned they are also related to the beaded lizard.

Answer 4

The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) is a species of lizard that was once thought to be one of only two species of venomous lizards. (The other is the Mexican beaded lizard.) The Gila (pronounced /'hilə/) monster lives in the deserts of the southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico. It is a heavy, slow moving lizard, up to 60 cm (2 feet) long. Its skin has the appearance of beads in the colors black, pink, orange, and yellow, laid down in intricate patterns.
It was thought to be one of only two venomous lizards, but recent discoveries have shown that iguanas and monitor lizards also produce venom. Unlike snakes who use hollow teeth (fangs), the Gila monster injects venom into its victim through grooves in the teeth of its lower jaw. It produces only small quantities of its neurotoxic venom, which is secreted into the lizard's saliva. By chewing its prey, however, it tries to put as much of the poison into the bloodstream of its victim as possible.
The Gila monster's bite is normally not fatal to humans (there are no reliable reports of fatalities), but it can bite quickly and holds on tenaciously.
The Gila monster's diet generally consists of small rodents, juvenile birds as well as eggs of both birds and reptiles. They have few natural predators of their own.
The name "Gila monster" refers to the Gila River Basin in Arizona.Gila monsters are a protected species under Arizona state law in the United States, and may not be collected, killed, or kept in captivity without a permit in that state. They are listed as a threatened species under the United States Federal Endangered Species Act, as well as in Mexico. They also appear in Appendix II of CITES, which puts restrictions on their export. The main threat to the species is human encroachment and habitat destruction.

Answer 5

I used to watch the gila monster on TV back in the day...in black-n-white...never seen a live one, though...that would be scarier than Flava Flav!

Answer 6

I agree with the first answer. Not knowing where you live, I believe they are only in the southwest, and are orange and black, and have a very rough looking skin. If you are unsure call your local animal control or a veterinarian that specializes in reptiles. DO NOT attempt to catch it yourself. God Luck

Answer 7

no such thing as gila monsters.

Answer 8

HI,,, yes,,,, dont mess with them,, they are poisonous,,, and they will bite you before you can blink.....once attached,, they are difficult to remove.....

Good luck.....

Answer 9

NEVER TOUCH ONE they are highly poisonous and it is lethal and you can die