Reptiles · Squamata · Helodermatidae

Gila Monster

Heloderma suspectum

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

It is one of only two venomous lizards in the world, alongside the Mexican beaded lizard. Its venom has been central to developing drugs for type 2 diabetes.

Weight

350 g – 2.3 kg

Size

15 cm – 56 cm

Lifespan

25 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

DesertCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Near Threatened Reptile Desert

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Fun facts

It is one of only two venomous lizards in the world.
It works its venom in by chewing, rather than through hollow fangs as snakes do.
Its venom has been central to developing modern drugs for type 2 diabetes.
fisiologíaIt is one of the few venomous lizards, and its saliva contains a toxin that inspired a drug now used against type 2 diabetes.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton covered in osteoderms (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Rocky desert and arid scrub of the south-western United States and north-western Mexico
Birth weight: The newly hatched young ~15-16 cm long; no precise weight found
Size at birth: 15 - 16 cm long at hatching
Sexual maturity: 3-5 years
Gestation / incubation: 9-10 months (some sources give a full year from fertilisation to emergence)
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 12 eggs per clutch (average 2-30 depending on the source)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 28.9 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animalia.bio; Animal-pedia.org; AnimalSpot; Elmwood Park Zoo; Nevada Department of Wildlife; Animal Diversity Web; San Diego Zoo