The gila monster is one of only a few poisonous lizards in the world. The gila monster heloderma suspectum is a large heavy bodied lizard. Readers will discover all the details about these roughskinned reptiles, including their life cycles, diet, habitat, and range. It is true that gila monster, facts and folklore of americas aztec lizard carries errors on the back cover, but there are none in the text. Its skin looks like beads and is black, pink, orange, and yellow. Today i want to write about one of the coolest looking lizards in the world. Gila monster lives in southwestern parts of the united states and northwestern mexico, in deserts such as mojave, sonoran and chihuahuan. It is stoutbodied with black and pink blotches or bands.
The gila monster is the only venomous lizard native to the united states. Gila monster facts for kids 7 awesome facts you didnt know about gila monsters interesting informa. Gila monsters download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Gila monsters have venom in their saliva glands that paralyzes prey. Their black bodies are covered in beadlike scales with bright spots, blotches, or bands of pink, orange, or yellow, which probably warn other animals to stay away. Gila monsters meet you at the airport by marjorie weinman. The gila monster is a strong biter that is hard to shake loose. A component of gila monster venom exendin4 has been approved by the fda to be used in a new drug called byetta which helps in the treatment of type2 diabetes. Learn more amazing facts about the gila monster in this video from national geographic kids. The gila monster is named after the gila river basin in which it is found. The gila pronounced heeluh is the largest lizard native to the united states. This, when combined with the pitfall trap data indicating that hatchlings. This is a wonderful childrens book about scientists in three national parks. This is necessary since it may not find food regularly in its desert environment.
I learned about this because mary kay and tom visited the cat shelter i volunteer at, and they mentioned they had written a book about parks. The gila monster egg puzzle frontiers for young minds. This book is about friendship and its message is dont be afraid when you move to a. Gila monsters can grow 2 feet long, but they only weigh about 5 pounds. Gila monster is the venomous species of lizard native to the southwestern united states and northwestern mexican state of sonora. Gila monster pronounced heeluh is described as a frightening heavybodied lizard found in the deserts of the southwestern united states and northwestern mexico. Their bulky bodies, slowmoving stride, thick forked tongue, and snorting hisses. The family name helodermatidae means warty skin, referring to the beaded look of the dorsal scales, due to the presence of. Venomous desert dweller by carolyn burnhardt and the gila monster had a killer reputation by richard lapidus. It is found in the southwestern united states and mexico, a range including sonora, arizona, parts of california, nevada, utah, and new mexico. The gila monster can bite quickly and hold on tightly, but it does not kill humans.
Today, utah gila monsters are found in a part of washington county where the beautiful mohave. The gila monster lizard is named for the gila river in arizona. It is one of only two kinds of lizards that are poisonous to humans. In this case the boy has preconceived notions of how strange his new city in the west will be compared to his home in the eastern us. The tohono oodham and the pima believed that gila monsters possessed a spiritual power capable of causing sickness. They live in the dry, arid regions such as the mojavein fact, the gila monster is the largest lizard in the u. Foothills palo verde fact sheet arizonasonora desert museum. Click download or read online button to get gila monsters book now. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading gila monsters. Gila monster, one of two species of north american venomous lizards in the genus heloderma of the family helodermatidae. By alina bradford live science contributor 23 march 2017.
Learn about gila monsters and enjoy colorful pictures look and learn. Gila monsters meet you at the airport, by marjorie weinman. Interesting facts about gila monsters just fun facts. These lizards have powerful jaws, so once the reptile bites, prey cant easily escape. Gila monster photographs by joel sartore at a length of up to two feet and a maximum weight exceeding five pounds, the venomous gila monster pronounced heeluh is the largest lizard native to. Their bite is painful, but it isnt particularly dangerous to humans. In this book brett has done a good job of finding facts that will be interesting to children, such as how big are gila monsters, what do they eat, what is their life cycle, and whether or not gila monsters are venomous. Bestselling childrens author miles merchant presents fantastic facts about gila monsters. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Marjorie weinman sharmat was an american childrens writer. Gila monsters have been observed to flip over while biting the victim, presumably to aid the flow of the venom into the wound.
It has a stocky body with a large head and a short, fat tail. Gila monster is described as a frightening heavybodied lizard found in the deserts of the southwestern united states and northwestern. Gila monster, heloderma suspectum, one of two species of north american venomous lizards in the genus heloderma of the family helodermatidae. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The gila monster heloderma suspectum is a species of venomous lizard. A gila monster can gulp down a third of its body weight in one meal, according to the san diego zoo. Arizona is full of beautiful natural attractions like the grand canyon and the petrified forest. In fact, authors frequently have little or no say over how their work is packaged. Gila monsters meet you at the airport by marjorie weinman sharmat. The gila monster has powerful limbs for digginga necessary design feature since this species is terrestrial and lives in dry desert regions, rather than in trees as many other.
The gila monster has the ability to consume large amounts of food at one time. This species appears closely related to the monitor lizard of asia, africa, and australia. Gila monsters live underground and may choose a rocky gap in the ground or an empty burrow made by another animal. Because the gila monsters prey consists mainly of eggs, small animals, and otherwise helpless prey, the gila monsters venom is thought to have evolved for defensive rather than for hunting use. Gila monsters reach the age of maturity between 35 years. See the fact file below for more information on the gila monster or alternatively, you can download our 24page gila monster worksheet pack to utilise within the.
It belongs to the genus heloderma and the family helodermatidae. Horrible geography series scholastic childrens books which won a 2009 blue peter book award. Gila monsters meet you at the airport reading rainbow book sharmat, marjorie. They are not very big, but are still the largest lizard to be found in the united states, measuring up to 58 cm long less than 2 feet. Turtles and gila monsters are very different, which helps us explore factors that might cause this strategy to evolve. Gila monster facts, worksheets, habitat, diet, venom for kids. The gila monster is the largest lizard in the united states, and one of the few species of venomous lizard in the world. Poison is a substance that is secreted by an organisms external covering,i. The gila monster was named for the gila river basin and occurs in the southwestern u. A cute childrens book about the fears of moving to a different part of the. However, the absolute best local source for childrens books about our region. Gila monster facts, diet, characteristics, habitat, venom.
Many people fear the lizard known as the gila monster. This book uses captivating images and expertly written words to teach children about gila monsters. Because the gila monsters prey consists mainly of eggs, small animals, and otherwise helpless prey, the gila monsters venom is thought. Gila monsters meet you at the airport reading rainbow book. The female digs a hole and lightly covers her 212 eggs that weigh 1. But theres more to these reptiles than their pink, orange, and black bodies. Their black bodies are covered in beadlike scales with bright spots, blotches, or bands of pink, orange, or yellow. The skin consists of many round, bony scales, a feature that was common amongst the. It is a venomous lizard with the sluggish nature and it represents little threat to humans. Breeding season is in early summer, when males compete by participating in wrestling matches. Arizona facts, coloring pages, and more for students and educators from the friendliest gila monster in the grand canyon state. This toxin is usually stored in specialized glands,in the case of the gila monster,it is stored in. Colorado river, little colorado river, gila river, bill williams river. They are slowmoving animals, so a hunting gila monster flicks its tongue to smell prey, then sneaks up on it.
Gila monsters spend most of their lives under the ground. The gila monster ranges from sea level to 1,500 meters 4,920 feet in altitude. This one is tricky a gila monster is actually venomous. Gila monster facts for kids 7 awesome facts you didnt. It looks a lot like the mexican beaded lizard, which is its closest relative. Theres been only one death from a gila monster bite since 1930. Venom,however,must be injected via fangs or stingers.
Michael mozdy is a digital science writer for the natural history museum of utah, a. But we have now found that gila monsters also use this strategy. Gila monster is one of the two known venomous lizard species the other one is mexican beaded lizard. Gila monsters swallow their food whole but will bite down to break open eggs. Dont worry, you wont have too much trouble getting away if you see one.