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Reblogged by cstanhope@social.coop ("Your friendly 'net denizen"):
Animal of the day (072)
The Gila Monster is a desert dweller ironically named after the Gila river, where it is a common sight. It is the only venomous lizard native to the United States and the largest lizard north of the Mexican border, growing to about 22" in total length. Rather than injecting venom through hollow fangs like many snakes, it has enlarged, grooved teeth in its lower jaw that chew the venom in through capillary action. It can live for several years on the fat stored in its tail, but can't detach and regrow it like other lizards do.
#Wahnimals #animals #nature #lizard
(Photo: Christine Elder)
Attachments:
- Photograph of a Gila Monster (pronounced like "Heela Monster") standing on all fours on top of a large rock. The background is very desert like and the ground is covered in sand. The lizard is rather large, black, with a contrasting reticulated orange pattern along its entire body. The scales of the head, back, and tail contain little pearl-shaped bones (osteoderms) similar to those found in the beaded lizards from further south. The head is rather large and triangular-shaped. The eyes are black and small, while the tail is almost as long as its body. The limbs are short and end in clawed digits. (remote)
