Gila monster  (Heloderma suspectum)

The majority of the Gila monster's range is in western and southern Arizona, south to southern Sonora in Mexico, although populations are also found in restricted areas of California, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico (5). Of the subspecies, the banded Gila monster occupies the northern extent of the species' range (3). The name 'Gila monster' is derived from the Gila River Basin in Arizona, part of this species' range (4).

Inhabits dry desert scrub and rocky mountain foothills up to 1,500 metres above sea level (3).