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As hatchlings both the Reticulated Gila
Monster H. s. suspectum and the Banded Gila Monster H. s. cinctum are
similarly colored with the reticulated pattern of the former subspecies arising from an ontogenic color change. Hatchlings typically have five dark
cross bands on the body and four to five black rings on the tail, including the black tip.
Within the cross bands on the back are four to nine light spots in a roughly linear
arrangement along the midline of the long axis of the band.
As specimens of H. s. suspectum age, some areas
that were previously black become light and some light areas become black. As the process
continues, the original bands become obscured and the pattern becomes more reticulated.
Adult H. s. cinctum,
however, retain most of the banded pattern of juveniles.
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