Editing Plumed basilisk (section)

===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}}