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Gila monster just after sunset near Wild Horse Tank in Ajo Mountains. Gila monsters (heloderma suspetum) are one of only two species of venomous lizards in the world. In summer months they are largely nocturnal, seeking out the nestlings of birds and rodents as their prey, eating on average three to five meals per year. Their life span is 12-15 years in the wild. Gila monsters store up to 20% of their body weight in the fluid of their bladder, which they can draw on for liquid supply. Their skin is composed of "osteoderms," or bony bumps that allow them to penetrate cactus thickets with little injury, and the skin acts as a flexible armor. They are very slow-moving and are inactive 80% of the year. What little activity they do have is seasonal, with peaks in April and May during the last summer rains when prey is abundant.

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STNMTZ_20050626_8052.tif
Copyright
© 2005 George Steinmetz
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6144x4096 / 72.0MB
www.georgesteinmetz.com
Contained in galleries
Sonoran Ecology
Gila monster just after sunset near Wild Horse Tank in Ajo Mountains. Gila monsters (heloderma suspetum) are one of only two species of venomous lizards in the world. In summer months they are largely nocturnal, seeking out the nestlings of birds and rodents as their prey, eating on average three to five meals per year. Their life span is 12-15 years in the wild. Gila monsters store up to 20% of their body weight in the fluid of their bladder, which they can draw on for liquid supply. Their skin is composed of "osteoderms," or bony bumps that allow them to penetrate cactus thickets with little injury, and the skin acts as a flexible armor. They are very slow-moving and are inactive 80% of the year. What little activity they do have is seasonal, with peaks in April and May during the last summer rains when prey is abundant.

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