The Gila monster is a large, colorful lizard native to the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. It has a distinctive appearance, with a stout body covered in black scales and bright orange or yellow patterns. This reptile is one of the few venomous lizards in the world, using its venom to subdue prey like small mammals and birds. Despite its fearsome reputation, the Gila monster is generally slow-moving and prefers to avoid confrontation. It spends much of its time underground in burrows, emerging mainly to hunt or bask in the sun. This unique creature plays an important role in its ecosystem, helping to control the populations of its prey.