Gila Monster (Real World)

==Summary==
Gila Monsters (Heloderma suspectum) are carnivorous lizards found throughout the southwestern United States. They are among the three varieties of venomous lizards in the world, along with the Mexican Beaded Lizard (a close relative) and the Komodo Dragon; it is also the only venomous lizard native to the United States. Unlike venomous snakes that have venom glands behind their eyes, Gila Monsters generate and store venom in modified salivary glands.West, G. S. (1895). "On the Buceal-Glands and Teeth of certain poisonous Snakes". Proceed. Zool. Soc. Of London.
Gila Monsters were named for the Gila River Basin where they had been prevalent."Online Etymology Dictionary". Archived from the original on 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2008-06-10. Despite their infamy stemming from their venomous bite, Gila Monsters are not considered a threat to humans partly due to its sluggish nature; in fact, people more of a threat to Gila Monsters, and often kill them despite them being protected by Arizona state law.Hammerson, G.A.; Frost, D.R.; Gadsden, H. (2007). "Heloderma suspectum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T9865A13022716. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T9865A13022716.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
==Powers and Stats==
Tier: , higher via piercing damage
Name: Heloderma suspectum, Gila Monster
Origin: The Real World
Gender: Varies (Can be male or female)
Age: Varies 
Classification: Animal, vertebrate, reptile, squamate, lizard, Helodermatid
Powers and Abilities: Small Size (Type 0, can grow to 56 cm long), Bodily Weaponry (Tail, claws and teeth), Poison Manipulation (Have a venomous bite, likely adapted for defense since they tend to hunt smaller and weaker prey.Beck, Daniel D. (1990). "Ecology and Behavior of the Gila Monster in Southwestern Utah". Journal of Herpetology. 24 (1): 54–68. doi:10.2307/1564290. ISSN 0022-1511. JSTOR 1564290.), Their tails can store fat to sustain themHolcomb, Terry (2017). Thermal and Behavioral Ecology of the Mexican Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum) (MSc). Central Washington University.
Attack Potency: Below Average Human level (Mostly feeds on small mammals and birds, lizards, and invertebrates, and is also known to eat eggs and scavenge on carrion), higher via piercing damage (Has a forceful bite and will chew at the site of the strike to release venom"Gila Monster". National Geographic. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2023. May not readily release its bite), can ignore conventional durability with venom (Though it generally does not kill healthy adult humans.Lapidus, Richard (June 3, 2011). "The Gila Monster Had a Killer Reputation". Wild West Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Although the Gila monster's bite is extremely painful, none has resulted in a verifiable human fatality to a healthy person.)
Speed: Below Average Human (Have a top speed of 1.5 mph)
Lifting Strength: Below Average Human (Can reach a mass of 550-800 g)
Striking Strength: Below Average Human level
Durability: Below Average Human level (Have osteoderms on their head, back, and tail. Are preyed on by coyotes, badgers, and birds of prey)
Stamina: Unknown (Have high endurance and maximal aerobic capacity compared to other lizardsBeck, D. D.; Dohm, M. R.; Garland, T. Jr.; Ramirez-Bautista, A.; Lowe, C. H. (1985). "Locomotor performance and activity energetics of helodermatid lizards". Copeia. 1995 (3): 577–585. doi:10.2307/1446755. JSTOR 1446755. Have a slower metabolism even compared to other lizards their sizeC. M. Gienger, C. Richard Tracy, and Kenneth A. Nagy "Life in the Lizard Slow Lane: Gila Monsters Have Low Rates of Energy Use and Water Flux," Copeia 2014(2), 279-287, (1 June 2014). https://doi.org/10.1643/CP-13-086)
Range: Below Standard Melee Range
Intelligence: Animalistic
Weaknesses: Is more sluggish in cold temperatures.
==Notable Matchups==
Victories:
Losses:
Inconclusive:
==References==
Category:Real World
Category:Animals
Category:Bodily Weaponry Users
Category:Claw Users
Category:Reptiles
Category:Small Sized Characters
Category:Poison Users
Category:Characters