Nickname: It’s called the "Jesus Christ lizard" because it can run on water!
Running on Water: Basilisk lizards run on water for up to 15 feet using their long toes and speed.
Where They Live: Found in rainforests near rivers in Central and South America.
What They Eat: They’re omnivores—eating insects, small fish, berries, and flowers.
Baby Lizards: Baby basilisks can run and swim immediately after hatching!
The basilisk lizard is a type of reptile found in Central and South America, especially in rainforests near rivers and streams.
Its nickname is the "Jesus Christ lizard" because it can run on water!
The basilisk lizard can run across water for short distances, up to 4.5 meters (15 feet)!
It does this by using its long toes, which have special skin flaps to keep it from sinking. It runs really fast to stay above the surface.
Basilisk lizards are about 20-30 centimeters long (8-12 inches) without counting their tail. With the tail, they can be up to 3 feet long!
They have a green, brown, or olive-colored body to blend in with trees and plants.
Males have a tall crest (like a fin) on their heads and backs, which makes them look cool!
They are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals.
Their diet includes insects, small fish, berries, and flowers.
Besides running on water, they are very fast runners on land. This helps them escape predators like snakes and birds.
They live in trees and near water. Basilisks are great climbers and can dive into water if they feel threatened.
Female basilisk lizards lay eggs, usually about 10-20 at a time. The babies hatch on their own and can run and swim immediately!
The basilisk lizard’s crests and movements make it look a little like a mini-dinosaur. Imagine a tiny T. rex running on water!