Gila Monster

This passage is about a lizard known as a gila monster.

Lexile Level: 810L

Categories: Animals & Nature


The Gila monster is a venomous lizard that lives in the deserts of the United States and Mexico. It can grow to up to two feet long. Its skin has a beaded pattern of scales. The scales are black, pink, orange, and yellow. It has a large head and body, a thick tail, and short legs with claws. They are currently a threatened species. A Gila monster moves slowly and clumsily. Its venom is in its saliva. It has grooves in its lower teeth that it uses to inject this venom into prey. Unlike a snake, a Gila monster has to poison its prey by chewing. Gila monsters eat small rodents, small birds, and eggs. The bite of a Gila monster is not usually fatal to humans. Gila monsters are known for their ability to hang on once they have bitten someone. Recently, a synthetic version of Gila monster venom was produced as a treatment for diabetes.


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