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Extreme warming in the future may shrink the range of venomous Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) in the U.S. Southwest.
Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) can live for decades, though it isn’t clear exactly what age they might reach in the wild. They are among only a handful of lizards known to carry venom strong enough to affect humans. Their bites can lead to extreme pain and even hospitalization. But their venom also has benefits—proteins carried in Gila monster saliva led to the development of the weight-loss and diabetes drug Ozempic.
Gila monsters face habitat loss, and Nevada considers the species a protected conservation priority. The reptiles are nest predators, subsisting on eggs from Gambel’s quails (Callipepla gambelii) and Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) as well as baby desert cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus audubonii). After rummaging through a nest, they will retreat underground to digest for some time.
“We see a much stronger reduction in range for this species,” said Steven Hromada, a postdoctoral scientist at Fresno Chaffee Zoo in central California.
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