Science 04 Lesson 95

Gila monsters are one of the two proven venomous lizards. A Gila monster bite is very painful to humans, but it rarely causes death. The Gila monster is in the family Helodermatidae. Its scientific name is Heloderma suspectum. Its predators are humans, coyotes, and birds of prey. Gila monsters lay 8 eggs most of the time. A Gila monsters’ average length is 18 to 22.5 inches in length. Gila monsters can only run about 1 mph (1.6 km/h). Gilas are more than willing to climb a cactus to get to a nest full of eggs. That’s it!