Basiliscus (lizard)

Basiliscus is a genus of large corytophanid lizards, commonly known as basilisks, which are endemic to southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. The genus contains four species, which are commonly known as the Jesus Christ lizard, or simply the Jesus lizard, due to their ability to run across water for significant distances before sinking due to the large surface area of their feet.

Taxonomy and etymology

Both the generic name, Basiliscus, and the common name, "basilisk", derive from the Greek basilískos (βασιλίσκος) meaning "little king". The specific epithet, vittatus, which is Latin for "striped", was given in Carl Linnæus' 10th edition of Systema Naturæ.<ref name="Sprackland">Template:Cite book</ref>

Description

Basilisks on average measure Template:Convert in total length (including tail). Their growth is perpetual, fast when they are young and nonlinear for mature basilisks. Their skin is shed in pieces.Template:Citation needed

Basilisks are oviparous and lay 8–18 eggs.<ref name="Vitt and Caldwell 2014"/>

Running on water

Basilisks sometimes run bipedally. Basilisks have the ability to "run" on water,<ref name="Vitt and Caldwell 2014"/><ref name="National Geographic"/> and because of this, they have been dubbed the "Jesus Christ lizard" in reference to the biblical passage of Jesus walking on water.<ref name="National Geographic">Template:Cite magazine</ref> On water, basilisks can run at a velocity of Template:Convert per second for approximately Template:Convert before sinking on all fours and swimming.<ref name="National Geographic"/> Flaps between their toes help support basilisks, creating a larger surface and pockets of air, giving them the ability to run across water.<ref name="National Geographic"/>

A similar behavior, running bipedally across water, is known from the sailfin lizards and a few species of anole lizards.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=Bauer2008>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Other defense mechanisms

Basilisks can burrow into sand to hide from predators; a ring of muscles around both nostrils prevents sand from entering the nose.Template:Citation needed

Habitat and geographic range

Basilisks are abundant in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Ecuador and Venezuela.Template:Citation needed

File:Monster 2.jpg

Invasive species

The species Basiliscus vittatus (brown basilisk) has been introduced to Florida.<ref>Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. Template:ISBN. (Basiliscus vittatus, p. 276 + Plate 24).</ref> It has adapted to the colder winters by burrowing into leaf litter for warmth.Template:Citation needed Current reports sight the brown basilisk as far north as Fort Pierce, on the state's East Coast, where small groups have crept up the North Fork of the Saint Lucie River.Template:Citation needed Mainly it has been seen in Boca Raton and other cities in Palm Beach County.Template:Citation needed as seen in this photo taken in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Classification

Genus Basiliscus has four extant species:<ref name=RDB>Template:NRDB genus</ref>

Image	Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
File:Common basilisk - Flickr - GregTheBusker (2).jpg	Basiliscus basiliscus Template:Small	common basilisk	from southwestern Nicaragua to northwestern Colombia on the Pacific side, and from central Panama to northwestern Venezuela
File:Basiliscus basiliscus.jpg	Basiliscus galeritus Template:Small	western basilisk, red-headed basilisk	western Colombia and western Ecuador
File:Green Basilisk, Alajuela, Costa Rica.jpg	Basiliscus plumifrons Template:Small	plumed basilisk, green basilisk, double crested basilisk	eastern Honduras, through Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to western Panama
File:Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus) (6775707063).jpg	Basiliscus vittatus Template:Small	brown basilisk, striped basilisk	Mexico, Central America and adjacent northwestern Colombia

External links

• Jesus Lizard Robot An attempt at building a robotic version of the Jesus Lizard
• How "Jesus Lizards" Walk on Water
• Jesus Lizards Walk on Water Video

Further reading

• Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. Iguanidæ .... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I–XXIV. (Genus Basiliscus, pp. 106–107).
• Laurenti JN (1768). Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum. Vienna: Joan. Thom. Nob. de Trattnern. 214 pp. + Plates I–V. (Basiliscus, new genus, p. 50). (in Latin).