|
Linnaean Classification
Domain: Eukarya Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Helodermatidae Genus: Heloderma Species: Heloderma suspectum Conformer: The gila monster is not a regulator as it is a cold-blooded animal, being a reptile. This means that the organism’s body does not maintain a constant temperature and it fluctuates depending on the environment. Thus, the gila monster is a conformer. Dormancy: These organisms do not travel much, as they are pretty slow and are not forced to. They can actually live underground for 95% of their lives, emerging only to eat. They can store fat very efficiently, thus meals can be placed months apart if necessary. This indicates that gila monsters are dormant. Specialist: Gila monsters are specialists as they live solely in hot environments with not much to eat, like the chaparral or desert, and live under rocks in ditches. They do not move much and are primarily desert animals, so they are specialists. Consumer: This organisms is a consumer because it eats and obtains energy primarily from other organisms. Gila monsters do not perform photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, so they cannot obtain energy without eating other organisms, classifying it as a consumer. Carnivore: The gila monster is a carnivore because it eats organisms that are consumers, not producers. Gila monsters generally prey on small birds and mammals, eggs, lizards, frogs, insects, and carrion, but in the zoo they are fed mice. Either way, they do not eat vegetation, thus must be carnivores. Niche: The gila monster eats some birds, frogs, lizards, and mammals, but it primarily eats eggs it steals from other nests. The gila monster is a venomous creature that is not generally hunted by any species for eating except for humans, who have made this species of lizard a threatened one. These animals can only live in hot environments, such as the desert or chaparral. The female Gila monster will lay 2-12 eggs in July, which will then incubate for 9 months before it hatches. |
Click the LEARN MORE button to be directed to another link and to find out more information about the animal.
|
|