THE GILA MONSTER The Gila monster is a giant lizard that grows up to 60 cm in length and can live 20 years. It has a yellow and black beaded skin that makes it quite easy to recognize on grass. That is perhaps why it lives in deserts and semi-arid regions of gravelly soils with shrubs. It is essentially found in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and Mexico.

THE GILA MONSTER The Gila monster is a giant lizard that grows up to 60 cm in length and can live 20 years. It has a yellow and black beaded skin that makes it quite easy to recognize on grass. That is perhaps why it lives in deserts and semi-arid regions of gravelly soils with shrubs. It is essentially found in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and Mexico.

Inactive from mid-November A very sluggish animal Inactive from mid-November to early March Active about 30% of the time during the hot wet season However the Gila monster doesn‘t use its venom to hunt but as a defense means towards potential enemies. Indeed the Gila monster is quite a sluggish animal which spends most of its time hiding in burrows: it is inactive from mid-November to early March and reaches its activity peak with the Monsoon rains, during the hot wet season.

How can it be so inactive ? But how can it be so inactive ? The answer is quite amazing : 4 or 5 meals may be enough to sustain the Gila monster for an entire year ! It is quite surprising knowing that it feeds only on small mammals, birds and eggs. It is able to live so thanks to its very slow metabolism and its ability to store fat in its tail and live on it for the entire year. Yummy ! A hamster !

But why is it so interesting ? Because it is one of only three species of venomous lizards. The other two being the Mexican beaded lizard, its cousin, and the Komodo dragon which has only recently proved to be venomous. The venom of a Gila monster is quite toxic. But as it does not inject much venom in its ennemy, it is not usually lethal to humans.

Toxicity of the venom IMMUNE 7 min < 2 min

< Toxicity of the venom 7 min IMMUNE 2 min The Gila monster does not use its venom to hunt !

As you have understood, the Gila monster is a very inactive animal As you have understood, the Gila monster is a very inactive animal. It is very slow and not generally agressive. It attacks only when persistently irritated. As a conclusion : if you are bitten, you must have deserved it !

But once you are bitten it is quite impossible to break free from the Gila monster‘s hold. Indeed when it does bite, it bites hard and hangs on with bulldog tenacity for as long as 15 minutes ! The only means reported to make it release its hold is to submerge it with water so it can’t breathe anymore. But in the desert…

Paralysis of the respiratory system WHAT Gradual paralysis of respiration Coagulation of blood is stopped Gradual paralysis of the heart Rapid drop in blood pressure If you are bitten, you ought to stay still and be brought to an hospital. The symptoms are …. But drugs are not necessary. You will get a tetanus vaccine. Then wait for the pain to go away! Paralysis of the respiratory system or Cardiac failure DEATH

WHAT Excruciating pain, edema, rapid drop in blood pressure, hemorrhage in internal organs, difficulty to breathe If you are bitten, you ought to stay still and be brought to an hospital. The symptoms are …. But drugs are not necessary. You will get a tetanus vaccine. Then wait for the pain to go away!

The venom apparatus Specialized salivary gland The venom is secreted in specialized salivary glands. Unlike the snakes, these glands are situated in the lower jaw. The Gila monster lacks the musculature to forcibly inject the venom; instead, the venom is propelled from the gland to the tooth by chewing. Specialized salivary gland Duct that delivers the venom to the teeth.

Complex teeth Lance-shaped at the tip Groove for conduction of venom Capillarity action The cutting action produces a wound into the flesh of the victim where the venom can easily flow. Temporary reservoirs for the venom discharged by the glands.

Complex teeth Lance-shaped at the tip Groove for conduction of venom Capillarity action The cutting action produces a wound into the flesh of the victim where the venom can easily flow. Temporary reservoirs for the venom discharged by the glands.

The venom Peptide : EXENDIN-4 More than a dozen peptides and proteins have been isolated from the Gila monster's venom, hyaluronidase, serotonin, phospholipase A2, and several kallikrein-like glycoproteins Peptide : EXENDIN-4

May help to treat type-2 diabete EXENDIN-4 50% similar to the human hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that increases the production of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. The lizard hormone is about 50 percent identical to a similar hormone in the human digestive tract, to the human hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that increases the production of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. . Exenatide is a synthetic form of a hormone called exendin-4 EXENATIDE May help to treat type-2 diabete

EXENDIN-4 remains effective much longer than the human hormone its synthetic form helps diabetics keep their blood sugar levels from getting too high slows the emptying of the stomach and causes a decrease in appetite, The lizard hormone is about 50 percent identical to a similar hormone in the human digestive tract, to the human hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that increases the production of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. . Exenatide is a synthetic form of a hormone called exendin-4 leads to weight loss

GILA MONSTER It can kill But it can heal.