{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "gila-monster",
  "name": "Gila Monster",
  "scientificName": "Heloderma suspectum",
  "category": "Reptile",
  "summary": "The Gila monster is a large, slow-moving venomous lizard of the deserts and scrubland of the south-western United States and north-western Mexico. It grows to about 0.6 m (2 ft) and 0.7 kg, with black skin marbled by pink or orange beading. It walks with a heavy, deliberate gait and delivers venom by chewing rather than striking. Listed as Near Threatened, it can live 20 years or more.",
  "conservationStatus": "Near Threatened",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Reptilia",
    "order": "Squamata",
    "family": "Helodermatidae",
    "genus": "Heloderma"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.7,
    "lengthM": 0.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 2.4,
    "lifespanYears": 20
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Heloderma suspectum"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Deserts and scrubland"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "20+ years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "Up to 0.6 m (2 ft)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Venom",
      "value": "Venomous bite, rarely dangerous to humans"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Near Threatened (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Deserts and scrubland of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.",
    "continents": [
      "North America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Heloderma suspectum.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Heloderma%20suspectum&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Heloderma suspectum. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Heloderma_suspectum/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Gila Monster.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gila_monster"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/gila-monster/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/gila-monster/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}