Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Autarchoglossa Family: Helodermatidae Genus: Heloderma Species: Heloderma suspectum Geographic Range The Gila monster ranges from the extreme southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, and adjacent San Bernadino County, California, southeastrward through west and south Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. It ranges south into Mexico through Sonora to northwestern Sinaloa. It ranges from sea level to 1,500 meters in altitude. (Ernst, 1992) Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (native ). Habitat The Gila monster can be found in arid areas. These areas usually contain scattered cacti, shrubs, mesquite, and grasses. Rocky slopes, arroyos, and canyon bottoms (mainly those with streams) support populations in Arizona. (Ernst, 1992) Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune . Physical Description This is one of only two venomous lizard species in the world (the other is the Mexican beaded lizard, Heloderma horridum). Gila monsters are large and stout lizards with a short fat tail (maximum length of 56 centimeters). Their scales are beaded yellow, pink, and black. The broad head, chin, and neck are black, as well as the legs and feet. The black eyes have a round pupil. The ear opening is a narrow oblique or ovoid slit. The limbs of the lizard are stout and have heavy claws. Food Habits The Gila monster's diet consists of a variety of objects: small mammals (young rabbits, mice and squirrels), birds, lizards, and eggs (of birds, lizards, snakes, turtles, and tortoises). The Gila monster has the capability to consume large amounts of food at one time (young can consume 50% of their body weight at a single feeding, adults can consume 35%). This is advantageous in an envirnoment in which finding prey at regular intervals may be difficult. Prey are rarely envenomated, which indicates that venom is used mainly for defense. Prey are detected by olfaction (the sense of smell). The Gila monster, like most snakes, uses its tongue for olfaction. Info from here Photo taken with Konica Minolta Dimage Z5. Hope you like it and thanks for watching :-)