Gila monsters spend 90% of their lifetime underground in burrows or rocky shelters. They are active in the morning during the dry season (spring and early summer). ... Gila monsters are slow in sprinting ability, but they have relatively high endurance and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max) for a lizard.
Are Heloderma venomous?
Out of the approximately 3000 species of lizards, there are only two known poisonous species. The Gila monster Heloderma suspectum (with two subspecies) and the Mexican beaded lizard Heloderma horridum (with three subspecies) make up the venomous lizards and are only found in the Americas.
What does Gila monster venom do?
In the wild, venom may help Gila monsters immobilize prey or defend themselves when a predator or human disturbs them.
