Gila Monster

[BlackendMetalDeathHead666]

I know I know poisonus venomous lots of pain death ect. but some people breed them and i think theyre comletely beautiful and amazing. in a way its like a colorful miniature kamodo

Heloderma suspectum, is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. A heavy, slow-moving lizard, up to 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) long, the Gila monster is the only venomous lizard native to the United States and one of only two known species of venomous lizards in North America, the other being its close relative, the Mexican beaded lizard (H. horridum).[2] Though the Gila monster is venomous, its sluggish nature means that it represents little threat to humans. However, it has earned a fearsome reputation and is sometimes killed despite being protected by state law in Arizona and Nevada.[3][1]

 

[james.w]

If I remember correctly no person has ever died from a Gila bite.

They are nothing like the Komodo, what do you mean by this comparison?

 

[got10]

not even close at all.

 

[slideaboot]

I'm starting to foresee a lot more posts like James' in the future...

Understandably.

 

[BlackendMetalDeathHead666]

well what i meant by comparing was your own tiny venmous/deadlyish lizard!! but i dont htink no ones ever died either >.< and yes now that i c its ok ill be putting many pics in posts!

 

[jmulley6]

I want one!! XD they are so cute, and poison fascinates me.

 

[james.w]

I think a Water, Nile, Lace, or Perentie Monitor would be a much better comparison to the Komodo. Some believe there are many lizard species that are venomous.

 

[BlackendMetalDeathHead666]

I think a Water, Nile, Lace, or Perentie Monitor would be a much better comparison to the Komodo. Some believe there are many lizard species that are venomous.

and i still cant believe its not butter! ok im dead tired goodnight and i agree after thinking baout it half dead asleep. ZZzzz..

 

[james.w]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taBbDixmJrI

 

[new2tegus]

Okay, well yes, they are both lizards lol, as in that aspect they could be considered a like, but as far as size, threat to life, the komodo would win hands down. As most know here, the komodo is not poisonous, the reason it kills is because of the huge amount of bacteria that live in it's mouth. Which, can be true for any animal that eats rotting flesh. Any lizard in that family could fit this bill. The fact that komodos feed off dead flesh continually gives them a higher probability. The bacteria will cause a rampant infection in your body, tissue necrosis,high fevers, and a flesh eating bacteria to top off your cocktail. Now, not saying the Gila couldn't kill you,but if you are in good health and don't have any underlying health issues, it probably won't happen. Would it hurt, sure,probably have tissue damage around the bite site,not sure what else, don't remember what kind of venom they have, would I recommend owning one, no. I'd rather not read or see about another person caring for a venomous reptile and get tagged by it headline.

 

[montana]

A member Names [Skippy] recently got two of them ...

I havent heard from him for some time now ..

He had been handling them with bare hands ....

You don`t have to die to to get a 200000 dollar hospital bill ...

I think they are fascinating!!

 

[Maro1]

You don`t have to die to to get a 200000 dollar hospital bill ...

Well said Montana! Its not death that will kill you sometimes LOL

 

[montana]

Komodo dragons are venomous ...

That has been clarified rather recently ...

 

[new2tegus]

komodo dragons aren't venomous....


"Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Dragon saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria, and within 24 hours, the stricken creature usually dies of blood poisoning. Dragons calmly follow an escapee for miles as the bacteria takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse. A dragon can eat a whopping 80 percent of its body weight in a single feeding."

That was taken off NatGeo, pretty sure they have to fact check what they put up, and they would have probably changed that information, so no, Komodo's aren't poisonous, you will die of blood poisoning,but that's due to the bacteria.

---

Okay, I'm still out on this, I've seen both, one saying they use venom, and the other saying it's the 50 strains of bacteria, so who knows. I think it's odd someone would feel that monitor lizards and iguanas are also poisonous. Then again, who knows. I'd like to see notes or a diagram of the jaw structure and delivery system of the venom. I also don't believe their bite is weak, I think they know when the bacteria starts feeding it will only be a matter of time before it drops so why risk injury.

 

[roastedspleen]

Okay, well yes, they are both lizards lol, as in that aspect they could be considered a like, but as far as size, threat to life, the komodo would win hands down. As most know here, the komodo is not poisonous, the reason it kills is because of the huge amount of bacteria that live in it's mouth. Which, can be true for any animal that eats rotting flesh. Any lizard in that family could fit this bill. The fact that komodos feed off dead flesh continually gives them a higher probability. The bacteria will cause a rampant infection in your body, tissue necrosis,high fevers, and a flesh eating bacteria to top off your cocktail. Now, not saying the Gila couldn't kill you,but if you are in good health and don't have any underlying health issues, it probably won't happen. Would it hurt, sure,probably have tissue damage around the bite site,not sure what else, don't remember what kind of venom they have, would I recommend owning one, no. I'd rather not read or see about another person caring for a venomous reptile and get tagged by it headline.

a few komodo dragon facts are wrong. first off tissue death and necrosis are same. second it doesn't harbor "huge" amounts of bacteria it has several different rare strains which are the main killing factor.

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i meant flesh eating bacteria cause tissue death

 

[new2tegus]

I'm still out on this one Montana, I think it's odd this guy is just going to claim over 5,000 species of lizards could be poisonous. We will see, it's like when you get a report about something, then a year later the media contradict it. I do know that there were a few people that got bit, and lived. So that makes me think he's full of it. If it dropped blood pressure that quickly, the gentleman that ran, would've dropped. Also if they don't have some sort of system to deliver the poison right into the blood stream other than a bite, I would think because it was trying to prey on this guy, it wouldn't have been a dry bite. Honestly, I don't believe the guy lol, but I'm not going to test his theory lol.

 

[montana]

The komodo dragon IS venomous...

I posed the question to some specialists at a zoo that keeps them that when kept in captivity do they still have the same toxic bacteria as those in the wild ...[Like the poison arrow frogs that arnt nearly as poisonous in captivity because of diet]...

I was told that recent studies indicated that the komodo dragon is indeed venomous...

 

[herpgirl2510]

I went to NERD in New Hampshire they have several up there. They are very beautiful and very slow moving he handled it and let it move aound on the floor. Whe he lifted it out of his enclosure he lifted it by its tail. I was told he was venemous but they had removed venom glands(?). I don't know if he was correct he would not let me touch it even though he said it was not venemous anymore.

 

[Varanus K.Face]

Dr. Bryan Fry is a research scientist out of University of Queensland who specializes in venom research. He recently proved that Varanus Komodoensis aka the Komodo Dragon does in fact produce a hemotoxic venom that prevents blood from clotting, causing bite victims to bleed out if not treated properly. You can read the papers related to this study by googling his name. It is speculated (but thus far unproven) that all Varanids are indeed venomous. In the past this was attributed to bacteria in the saliva, though no scientist had ever properly studied the matter until Dr.Fry.

They definitely are venomous. By every definition of the word. Venom glands and all. Dr. Fry's website even has a diagram of a Komodo skull, clearly displaying where the venom is produced and how it is injected into the victim.

Just to clear that up

Helodermas are awesome though!

 

[new2tegus]

I'm still going to say untrue on this. I think he's honestly trying to just make a name for himself, and the idea that these animals have venom glands isn't absurd, it's just unlikely. All of these lizards have bacteria in their mouths, wild and captive alike. Trust me, bacteria can kill just as quickly as venom could and considering the diet of these animals, and the differences in lethality found in captive and wild dragons saliva says it all. If they all have venom glands, and they are born with them obviously, why the difference. Simple, the captive dragons aren't eating rotting meat. I don't think he's studied them enough to release something like this, and they have been studied numerous years over and over, and each time it comes back to sepsis and bacteremia.