The Gila Monster is widely found in the Sonoran Desert. It is the largest lizard found in the United States. The Gila Monster can grow up to 2 feet and weigh more than 5 pounds. It is venomous and carnivorous eating primarily eggs and other newborn mammals. Average life span of the Gila Monster is 20-30 years.
The Gila Monster can be identified by their black bodies with dramatic patterns of orange, pink, or yellow. They were first discovered in Arizona’s Gila Basin where they received their name. They now reside in the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Mojave Deserts. But the Gila Monster population is shrinking due to human encroachment, and they are now on the threatened species list.
