The original specimen (deceased and frozen) was acquired in 1978 from a man who housed several Gilas within a single large enclosure. The donor speculated that the cause of death may have been the result of old age. However no pathological exam had been performed. The lizard was large, measuring 19″ inches from nose to tail.

In retrospect, I regret not having made an attempt to determine the Gila’s sex. Rather, my focus was set upon preserving it’s detail and form by making several quality plaster molds. My suspicion is that this particular Gila was a male based upon a “trend” that adult males typically have a stouter build and a broader head. Mature females tend to have a narrower head and a more pear-shaped body. This, however, this is not a fool-proof method of determining the sex of an adult Gila.