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  3. Green Basilisk
Green Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)

Reptiles · Squamata · Corytophanidae

Green Basilisk

Basiliscus plumifrons

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.

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Popularly known as the "Jesus Christ lizard" for its extraordinary ability to run across the surface of water on its hind legs, reaching speeds of up to 1.5 m/s.

Weight

up to 66 g

Size

up to 90 cm

Life expectancy

10 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestFreshwater
9countries5parks

AI-generated images: illustrations, not photographs.

Fun facts

  • Flaps of skin on its toes increase the contact area and trap a pocket of air that keeps it from sinking as it runs across water.
  • It eats insects, small vertebrates, fruit and flowers.
  • It lives in tropical rainforest near rivers and streams in Central America and northern South America.
  • locomociónIt can run across the surface of water thanks to flaps of skin on its hind feet that trap small pockets of air.

Life cycle and biology

Skeleton type
Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat and environment
Tropical rainforest near rivers and streams in Central America and northern South America
Birth weight
~2 grams; ~4.3 cm snout-to-vent on hatching
Size at birth
~4.3 cm snout-to-vent on hatching
Sexual maturity
18-24 months
Gestation / incubation
8-10 weeks (56-70 days)
Litter / clutch size
5 to 17 eggs per clutch, with up to 4-5 clutches a season
Life expectancy in captivity
Documented record of up to 13 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Spot; National Geographic; Animalia.bio; Smithsonian National Zoo; Grokipedia (Plumed basilisk); Wikipedia (Plumed basilisk); ReptCo Care Sheet

Where to find it

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The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.

Where to see it

Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.

Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Green Basilisk — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

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Based on what we already know about green basilisk.

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See full glossary
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CountriesCosta Rica
ParksTortugueroCosta Rica
TagsOmnivore
Omnivore
Diurnal
Solitary
Reptile
Rainforest
Freshwater

North America8

South America1

Costa Rica
Panama
Belize
Colombia
El Salvador
Guatemala
Belize
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Colombia