Editing Plumed basilisk (section)

==Behaviour==
[[File:Milwaukee Public Museum March 2023 24 (Survival of the Slowest--green basilisk).jpg|thumb|A plumed basilisk at the [[Milwaukee Public Museum]]]]

Male plumed basilisks are [[Territory (animal)|territorial]]; a single male may defend a territory that several females inhabit, with which he mates. Plumed basilisks do not tolerate much handling when kept in captivity.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

''B. plumifrons'' is able to run short distances across the water using both its feet and tail for support, an ability shared with other basilisks and the [[Malaysian sail-finned lizard]], When running, they create an [[Air cavity system|air cavity]] which they use to push themselves forward with their feet which is mostly seen in adult basilisk lizards. The adults have a greater mass than juveniles so there is less [[Fluid dynamics|hydrodynamic]] lag and they are able to run across the water in order to escape their predators. This has earned the plumed basilisk the nickname "Jesus Christ lizard".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/green-basilisk-lizard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228040035/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/green-basilisk-lizard|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 28, 2021|title = Green Basilisk Lizard &#124; National Geographic|website = [[National Geographic Society]]|date = 11 April 2010}}</ref> It is also an excellent swimmer and can stay underwater for up to an hour.

Most distinct to the ''B. plumifrons'' is the ability to run across water. Plumed basilisks will employ this behaviour in response to perceived threats experienced from surrounding predators or predatory potential. They use this strategy most commonly when they are in fear or under duress. ''B. plumifrons'' run bipedally (applying the use of both hind legs), utilizing both the foot and shank for immersion into water when their limbs are outstretched. Other lizard species utilise similar threat responses (for example, ''[[Anolis aquaticus]]'', [[Anolis barkeri|''A. barkeri'']]). This behaviour may be more advantageous than other responses such as water diving or swimming used by other lizard species, as it allows for escape from other aquatic predators (such as snakes, crocodiles, and large fish).{{sfnp|Laerm|1974}}

The speed at which the plumed basilisk is able to navigate water running is determined largely by each individual's hindlimb elongation potential. The hindlimb controls the locomotor gait and the stretch of the hindlimb allows for greater surface area and thus a greater velocity. In addition, it is proposed that the surface area of the lizard's foot is a considerable factor in gaining speed. This is a unique benefit to the ''B. plumifrons'', as it has toes directed in a rotated orientation allowing for greater surface area of the foot to run across water. Typically the adult ''B. plumifrons'' is able to run across water at a speed of {{convert|2.14|m/s|abbr=on}} and lesser speed for juvenile ''B. plumifrons''. While other species of lizards do employ water running behaviours, it has been shown that ''B. plumifrons'' are of the more preferential lizard species to water running and are typically less hesitant to utilize this skill.{{sfnp|Hsieh|2003}}{{sfnp|Laerm|1974}}

===Running on water===
Basilisk lizards are notable for their remarkable ability to scamper across water from the time they are born. Both juvenile and adult basilisk lizards tend to use this unique trait to [[Anti-predator adaptation|avoid predation]]. The mechanisms that allow these lizards to run across water is the result of elongated hind legs with webbing between the toes. This webbing captures pockets of air which allows the basilisk to quickly push off of water.

While some insects are able to run on water using [[surface tension]], basilisk lizards, which have much more mass, achieve this through alternative [[fluid dynamics]]. This lizard will use its hind leg to penetrate the surface of the water beneath it to create an air-filled cavity and then [[Retraction (topology)|retract]] its leg before the cavity closes. This enables the basilisk lizard to minimize its contact with water. Additionally, this running technique reduces the [[Drag (physics)|drag]] experienced during the run while simultaneously allowing the lizard's body to be propelled across the water at an average speed of {{convert|1.6|m/s|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sweeney |first1=Andrew |title=Force Measurement of Basilisk Lizard Running on Water |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2228198078 |website=ProQuest |id={{ProQuest|2228198078}} }}</ref>

Although all Basilisk lizards harness this water-running ability, there is notably [[Kinematics|kinematic]] variation in these runs for these lizards - variation that is primarily due to differences in running velocity and not differences in the mass of the lizards running. This kinematic variation is unique to basilisk lizards. For other land lizards, kinematic variations in their running are generally similar. Studies have also indicated that the basilisks hindlimbs act as the primary force producer when they are running on water.{{sfnp|Hsieh|2003}}

The basilisk lizard's remarkable ability to run on water has allowed scientists working with [[Bipedalism|bipedal]] and [[Quadrupedalism|quadrupedal]] robots to potentially create man-made technology that could also run on water through similar mechanisms.{{sfnp|Xu|Zhao|Li|Xu|2011}}

===Reproduction and life cycle===
[[File:Plumed basilisk (03388).jpg|thumb|Plumed basilisk resting at night in Costa Rica]]
During the week prior to laying, sexually mature females of ''B. plumifrons'' were observed presenting herself to the male. The female would position herself about {{convert|0.5|m|abbr=on}} from the male, lowering her forebody to the sand and raising her pelvic region and tail.  Females lay five to fifteen [[Egg (biology)|eggs]] at a time in warm, damp [[sand]] or [[soil]].  One mother lizard in [[captivity]] actually was observed to start digging holes (sometimes referred to as nests) in the soil six months prior to ovipositing, well ahead of the breeding season.{{sfnp|Banks|1983}} The eggs hatch after eight to ten weeks, at which point they emerge as fully independent lizards, although averaging only {{convert|43|mm|abbr=on}} SVL (Snout-to-Vent Length) and weighing only about {{convert|2|g}}.{{sfnp|Banks|1983}} The juvenile males would start to develop the large crests which are characteristic of the male ''B. plumifrons'' after six month or up to more than one year, depending on the body conditions of the juveniles.

Female ''B. plumifrons'' start "showing" (become visibly plump) one to two weeks post-fertilization. During the third week of gestation, females will begin to search for a site to burrow or lay approximately 14–17 eggs. Typically, the size and quantity of eggs will vary depending on the lifestyle and physical characteristics of the mother (i.e. age, health, and size). It is common for plumed basilisk females to lay multiple clutches within a given season and this event will occur up to four or five times during a given breeding season. Hatching of eggs occurs over a one to two day period after a gestation and incubation period of eight to ten weeks.{{sfnp|Pawley|1972}}{{sfnp|Laerm|1974}}

===Diet===
''B. plumifrons'' are an omnivorous species, their diet is inclusive of both meat and vegetation. While meat may be a stretch from their typical consumption, they choose to eat a large variety of insects and worms. While they are capable of consuming vegetation (such as fruits, seeds, flowers, and leaves), it is less sought out in the wild as opposed to captivity for the ''B. plumifrons''.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} While they do hunt smaller sized animals such as fish, small mammals (such as rodents), small birds, small nonvenomous snakes, smaller species of lizards, amphibians, and invertebrates (crustaceans, such as freshwater shrimp and crayfish, and spiders), they are most often found in search of insects for their diet.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

They typically consume brown crickets, black crickets, and locusts. In captivity, some owners choose to feed their ''B. plumifrons'' or green crested lizard wax worms, calciworms, cockroaches, mealworms, and beetle worms on occasion. This latter selection of worms, roaches, and beetles are not the best suitable for the ''B. plumifrons'' diet as they are found to be high in fat and can be difficult to digest for juvenile ''B. plumifrons''.{{sfnp|Cover|1986}}