Gila monster Facts
The Gila monster is a heavy, slow-moving lizard, a reptile that ranks as the one venomous lizard native to the US.
- Class
- Reptile
- Scientific name
- Heloderma suspectum
- Conservation status
- Near threatened (IUCN)
About the gila monster
Look for this sluggish reptile in the Southwestern United States and the Mexican state of Sonora, where it grows up to 22 in (56 cm) long. Because it moves so slowly, it is generally not dangerous and rarely threatens people, though its bite is painful. Its scary image still gets some killed, even though Arizona protects the species under state law.
The venom travels along grooves in the lower teeth and into prey. It holds many peptides, and one of them, exendin-4, became the basis for GLP-1 receptor agonists, medicines now prescribed for obesity and type 2 diabetes. That gives a lizard with a fearsome name an unexpected role in modern medicine. Scientists call it Heloderma suspectum, and the IUCN lists it as Near Threatened.
Did you know?
- The first word of Gila monster is pronounced HEE-lə, not with a hard G.
- Sonora, part of the Gila monster's range, is a state in northwestern Mexico.
- A Gila monster can reach about 56 cm, or 22 in, from nose to tail.
Questions about the gila monster
Is a Gila monster dangerous to humans?
Rarely. It is slow and sluggish, so it seldom poses a real threat, though a bite is painful.
Where do Gila monsters live?
They live in the Southwestern United States and the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico.
Sources
- Wikidata Q207058, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Gila monster, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.