Gila monster

For the song, see Gila Monster (song).

Gila monster
In the American International Rattlesnake Museum, New Mexico
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Helodermatidae
Genus: Heloderma
Species:
H. suspectum
Binomial name
Heloderma suspectum
Cope, 1869
A Gila monster

The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum, /ˈhiːlə/ HEE-lə) is a species of venomous lizard native to the Southwestern United States and the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is a heavy, slow-moving reptile, up to 56 centimetres (22 in) long, and it is the only venomous lizard native to the United States. Its venomous close relatives, the four beaded lizards (all former subspecies of Heloderma horridum) inhabit Mexico and Guatemala.[3][4] The Gila monster is sluggish in nature, so it is not generally dangerous and very rarely poses a real threat to humans. However, it has a fearsome reputation and is sometimes killed despite the species being protected by state law in Arizona.[1][5]

  1. ^ a b Hammerson, G.A.; Frost, D.R.; Gadsden, H. (2007). "Heloderma suspectum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T9865A13022716. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T9865A13022716.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Bogert, Charles M.; Rafael Martin del Campo (1956). The Gila Monster and its allies: the relationships, habits, and behavior of the lizards of the Family Helodermatidae. New York: Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History.
  5. ^ "Heloderma suspectum". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 19 May 2008.