The Gila monster is a species of venomous lizard. They’re slow, and thus aren’t much danger to humans. They are native to Southwestern US and northwestern Mexico. They are heavily reliant on external climatic conditions and prefer climates which are dry, but not as dry as a desert.
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE GILA MONSTER
- Their tail acts just like a camel’s hump: it stores fat for later usage.
- Their venom is used to treat diabetes.
- They need to hibernate in winters.
- They don’t need to eat much: they have a meal for a few times in a year
- They live for around a decade
WHAT’S NEXT IN STORE FOR THEM?
In the hot and humid Mojave desert, Gila monsters are losing their habitats due to climate change (It’s getting too hot for them). It is predicted that a suitable habitat for them will change over time, and their winter hibernation period is set to extend.
