Plumed basilisk


The plumed basilisk, also called commonly the green basilisk, the double crested basilisk, or the Jesus Christ lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Central America.

Geographic range

The natural distribution of B. plumifrons ranges from eastern Honduras, through Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to western Panama.

Taxonomy and etymology

The Green basilisk's generic name Basiliscus is taken from the legendary reptilian creature of European mythology which could turn a man to stone by its gaze: the Basilisk. This name derives from the Greek basilískos meaning "little king". This generic name was given in Carl Linnaeus' 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
For the origin of the nickname "Jesus Christ lizard", see.

Description

The plumed basilisk is the largest basilisk species, with an average snout-to-vent length of approximately. Including the tail, it can reach in total length. Adults are brilliant green, with bright yellow eyes, and small bluish spots along the dorsal ridge. Males have three crests: one on the head, one on the back, and one on the tail, while females only have the head crest. Juveniles are less conspicuously colored, and lack the characteristic crests.

Diet

The plumed basilisk is omnivorous and eats insects, small mammals, smaller species of lizards, fruits and flowers.

Predators

The predators of B. plumifrons include birds of prey, opossums, coati, and snakes.

Reproduction

Sexually mature females of B. plumifrons lay five to fifteen eggs at a time in warm, damp sand or soil. The eggs hatch after eight to ten weeks, at which point the young emerge as fully independent lizards.

Behaviour

plumed basilisks are very territorial; a single male may keep land containing a large group of females with whom he mates. Most plumed basilisks are skittish, and do not tolerate much handling when kept in captivity.
B. plumifrons is able to run short distances across water using both its feet and tail for support, an ability shared with other basilisks and the Malaysian sail-finned lizard, Hydrosaurus amboinensis. In Costa Rica, this has earned the plumed basilisk the nickname "Jesus Christ lizard." It is also an excellent swimmer and can stay under water for up to an hour.