Common Basilisk
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? Common Basilisk |
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| Basiliscus basiliscus ( Linnaeus, 1758) |
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Basiliscus basiliscus or basilisk is a lizard living in Central America. It has the remarkable ability of being able to run on the surface of water. On the sides of the toes of basilisk’s hind feet are flaps that enable them to splash water. These are rolled up when the animal walks on land. If the animal faces danger, it starts to run very fast on the surface of a river or a lake. Then the flaps on its hind feet are opened and thus more surface area is provided for it to run on water.
Species - Basiliscus basiliscus. Family - Iguanidae. Location - Central and South American rainforests. Near rivers and streams. Size - 2 & 1/2 feet long including the tail. Diet - Insects, small invertebrates, flowers, and small vertebrates (like snakes, birds, and fish). Enemies - Large birds of prey, snakes, fish, other large reptiles, and mammals. This animal is not endangered.
They are part of the Iguana Family. They, along with the Brown basilisk, have the nickname "Jesus Christ Lizard" or "Jesus Lizard" because when fleeing from a predator, they are very fast and can even run on top of the water. Basilisks actually have large hind feet with flaps of skin between each toe. The fact that they move quickly across the water, aided by their web-like feet, gives them the appearance of "walking on water". Smaller basilisks can run about 10-20 meters on the water without sinking. Young basilisks can usually run farther than older ones. Like most reptiles, basilisks are active during the day. They have long toes and sharp claws. Most are under a foot in length, but some may grow up to two feet. Basilisks usually weigh between 200-600 grams. Their maximum lifespan is probably around 7-8 years. In the wild, most die much sooner. Females lay about 2-18 eggs, five to eight times a year. Eggs hatch after about three months and the babies weigh about 2 grams. Their outstanding camouflage allows them to remain motionless and very hard to detect.