Date: 05/22/09
Contact: Margie Klein
Phone: 702-486-5127 x 3502

GILA MONSTERS. LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH!

The odds are against it, but if you were ever going to see a Gila monster in the Southern Nevada wild, these few weeks in May are the time. Gila (pronounced hee’-lah) monsters spend as much as 99 percent of their lives underground, and most of the time they do spend above ground occurs in April and May in Southern Nevada.

Banded Gila monsters are the largest lizards in North America, measuring anywhere from nine to 20 inches long. This animal is very much at home in the climate of the Mojave Desert and occurs at low- to mid-elevations. Gila monsters venture out of their burrows to forage for food and to mate. They are also active at night during the summer, especially when the temperatures are high during the day.

In late spring, their food sources, such as the defenseless young or eggs of small mammals, reptiles, or ground-nesting birds like quail, are plentiful. Female Gila monsters lay their eggs in July and August. They all enter hibernation (or brumation for reptiles) in November and don’t emerge again until about April.

The banded Gila monster is striking to see, with black and orange mottled bands on the entire body, a very thick tail and bumpy looking skin. Though it may not appear so, a Gila monster’s tail is very important to its health. The tail, if round and fat, can supply the lizard with fat reserves that can last several years. If the lizard has a desiccated tail, or if the tail is lost, the animal may die. Unlike most lizards Gila monsters are not able to re-grow their tail if it becomes detached.

Gila monsters and their cousins, the beaded lizards, are the only venomous lizards in the world. Their venom delivery system is different from that of venomous snakes. The venom is mixed with saliva and pushed out over grooved teeth as the lizard chews while holding onto its prey with a vice-like grip.

“Some people are fooled by how slow the lizard is and think they can easily pick one up without being bitten. However, despite the lizard’s relatively slow walking pace, it can turn its head to inflict an extremely painful bite very quickly. The resulting bite is painful for two reasons. From the lacerations caused by the razor sharp teeth and powerful jaws, and from the venom that enters the bite wound,” said NDOW reptile biologist Polly Conrad.

Though they are a pretty lizard, anyone lucky enough to see a Gila monster in the wild should refrain from picking it up. They are protected by state law due to their uniqueness and rarity. Habitat loss, illegal collection, and the limited knowledge about this species are all reasons for its protected status. Collection of the lizard for either commercial or personal reasons is illegal. A special permit from the Nevada Department of Wildlife is required even to move one out of harm’s way or study it for research purposes. It is also illegal to kill or possess any part of this animal.

Some people may want to kill it out of fear, but this is not necessary if proper precautionary steps are taken. Gila monsters are somewhat docile; they avoid confrontation and bite only when harassed, but it pays to be safe and view them only from a safe distance.

After seeing a Gila monster up close one can see the differences between it and the two other reptiles that are commonly mistaken for it. The western banded gecko is sometimes mistaken for a juvenile Gila monster and the chuckwalla is sometimes mistaken for an adult.

All three reptiles live in the same areas. The banded gecko is only four- to six-inches long, roughly the same size as a newly-hatched Gila monster, but geckos never get larger than that. They also have pointed snouts while Gilas have rounded ones. Geckos have a pink tongue and feet and slender bodies, while Gilas have a black forked tongue, black feet and thicker bodies.

Chuckwallas are similar in size to the Gila monster, usually from 11 to 18 inches long, but do not have the full, thick body of the Gila monster. Chuckwallas have loose skin on the sides of their bodies, and their skin is not bumpy with a “beaded” appearance like Gila monsters. The greatest source of confusion between the two species is due to coloration. Some chuckwallas can have orange and black coloring.

NDOW supports on-going Gila monster research projects, and because seeing it is so rare, anyone doing so is strongly encouraged to report any sightings. Witnesses should provide the date, time, habitat description and circumstances of the event to NDOW by calling 702-486-5127 x 3718. Photos are appreciated, in order to confirm the identification. More information about the Gila monster can be found online at www.ndow.org.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.