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Behavior

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Common basilisks have well-developed eyes and the sexual dimorphism that is found in this and several other Basiliscus species indicates that visual stimuli represent an important means of interspecific communication. The ears of common basilisks (and most other lizards) are also well-developed and serve similar functions to those of the mammalian ear (reception of sound waves, balance, orientation and movement of the head).

Communication Channels: visual

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; vibrations ; chemical

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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Conservation Status

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Common basilisks are common throughout their range and face no immediate threats to current populations. Continued habitat destruction in tropical regions represents the most significant conservation threat to this species.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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Life Cycle

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Small female common basilisks grow faster than males of a similar size. Annual and seasonal factors seem to only affect the growth of females. Most females reach sexual maturity around 135 mm of length and males start to produce spermatozoa when they reach lengths of 131 mm.

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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Benefits

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These lizards do not harm human interests.

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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Benefits

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Basilisks are popular pets and some people travel to certain areas to see the famous "Jesus Christ Lizard".

Positive Impacts: pet trade ; ecotourism

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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James Harding, Michigan State University
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Associations

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As generalist omnivores, common basilisks prey on many species. They are also a prey species for a handful of top level predators (see predators). Common basilisks in Panama were found to be hosts for the microbial parasites Plasmodium basilisci and P. achiotense.

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

  • Plasmodium basilisci
  • Plasmodium achiotense
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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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Trophic Strategy

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Common basilisks are omnivorous, though the diet of individuals in Panama indicated a significant preference for animal prey (22% plant material versus 78% animal material). They feed mainly on arthropods, small lizards, snakes, birds, mammals, fishes, freshwater shrimps, and occasionally frogs, but will also feed on flowers and fruits. Juveniles are more insectivorous than adults but will occasionally eat fishes. It has been shown that herbivory increases with age.

Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; reptiles; fish; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; aquatic crustaceans

Plant Foods: fruit; flowers

Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats terrestrial vertebrates, Piscivore , Insectivore , Eats non-insect arthropods); herbivore (Folivore , Frugivore ); omnivore

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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James Harding, Michigan State University
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Distribution

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Common, or brown, basilisks are found on the Pacific slope of Central and northern South America from southwestern Nicaragua to northwestern Columbia.

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native )

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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James Harding, Michigan State University
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Jeremy Wright, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
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Habitat

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Common basilisks are abundant in Pacific lowland forests of Central America and are the most commonly seen large lizards in western Costa Rica. They inhabit lowland dry, and moist forests, often adjacent to rivers and other waterways. They spend most of their time on the ground but sleep in perches up to 20 meters high at night.

Range elevation: 0 to 600 m.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest

Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams

Other Habitat Features: riparian

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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Life Expectancy

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A captive basilisk lived over 9 years, but few would live this long in the wild. Most males live from 4 to 6 years of age, females most likely have shorter lives on average. Van Devender (1982) found that survivorship of hatchling females is significantly lower than hatchling males. First-year survival for hatchlings can be less than 60 percent. Annual adult survivorship difference may be as much as 60 percent for females and 40 for males, but it is estimated that these counts may have been biased due to greater emigration rates for males.

Range lifespan
Status: wild:
7 (high) years.

Range lifespan
Status: captivity:
9 (high) hours.

Typical lifespan
Status: wild:
2 to 6 years.

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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Morphology

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Adult common basilisks are large lizards (snout to vent length up to 203 mm) whose tails generally comprise 70 to 75% of total body length (total length to 800 mm). These large tails aid in balance. They are generally brown or olive in color but can range from bright green to olive-brown and bronze. They have darker cross bands and cream to yellow lip and lateral stripes. Juveniles are colored similarly to adults but are generally more vivid and also have three longitudinal stripes on the throat. All age classes have brown to bronze irises. They have long digits with sharp claws for climbing. Males are larger than females and have sail-like crests supported by elongate neural spines including a rounded or pointed head, dorsal, and caudal crest.

Range mass: 200 to 500 g.

Range length: 430 to 800 mm.

Average length: 520 mm.

Other Physical Features: heterothermic

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger; sexes shaped differently; ornamentation

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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Associations

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Hatchling iguanids, including common basilisks, are readily eaten by raptors. Lizards such as giant ameivas (Ameiva ameiva) prey on common basilisk eggs, and many mammalian predators undoubtedly eat the eggs as well. Opossums and snakes may prey on adult basilisks while they are sleeping at night. The basilisk's brown or green-olive color probably helps to camouflage the lizard in the branches of trees and shrubs.

Known Predators:

  • raptors (Accipitridae)
  • opossums (Didelphidae)
  • large snakes (Serpentes)
  • white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica)

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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Reproduction

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Common basilisks begin breeding in March and females lay clutches of eggs over the next ten months. Females reach sexual maturity at around twenty months of age, males sometime in their second year of life. Males display size-related hierarchal dominance in which larger males often attack smaller males and prevent them from breeding. Because of this, many male basilisks do not enter the breeding cycle until 3 or 4 years of age. Male courtship behavior includes head-bobbing, which is typical of many iguanid lizards.

Mating System: polygynous

Breeding begins in March and females may lay several clutches of eggs (numbering 2 to 18 eggs per clutch) throughout the next ten months. Egg-laying is significantly lower in January, February, and March. Larger females lay more eggs than smaller ones.

Breeding interval: Common basilisks begin breeding in March of every year.

Breeding season: Breeding in March, egg-laying in following ten months.

Range number of offspring: 2 to 18.

Range gestation period: 60 to 90 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 20 months.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; sexual ; oviparous

A female common basilisk will dig a hole in which to lay her clutch of 2 to 18 eggs. After laying the eggs, she will usually inspect the nest, then fill it with soil using her forelimbs, packing the soil down with her snout. There is no further parental care.

Parental Investment: female parental care ; pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female)

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Wethington, A. 2012. "Basiliscus basiliscus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Basiliscus_basiliscus.html
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Alyssa Wethington, Michigan State University
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Rio Negro-Rio San Sun Mangroves Habitat

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This taxon occurs in the Rio Negro-Rio San Sun mangroves, which consists of a disjunctive coastal ecoregion in parts ofCosta Rica, extending to the north slightly into Nicaragua and south marginally into Panama. Furthermore, this species is not necessarily restricted to this ecoregion. Mangroves are sparse in this ecoregion, and are chiefly found in estuarine lagoons and small patches at river mouths growing in association with certain freshwater palm species such as the Yolillo Palm (Raphia taedigera), which taxon has some saline soil tolerance, and is deemed a basic element of the mangrove forest here. These mangrove communities are also part of a mosaic of several habitats that include mixed rainforest, wooded swamps, coastal wetlands, estuarine lagoons, sand backshores and beaches, sea-grasses, and coral reefs.

The paucity of mangroves here is a result of the robust influx of freshwater to the coastline ocean zone of this ecoregion. Among the highest rates of rainfall in the world, this ecoregion receives over six metres (m) a year at the Nicaragua/ Costa Rica national border. Peak rainfall occurs in the warmest months, usually between May and September. A relatively dry season occurs from January to April, which months coincides with stronger tradewinds. Tides are semi-diurnal and have a range of less than one half metre.

Mangroves play an important role in trapping sediments from land that are detrimental to the development of both coral reefs and sea grasses that are associated with them. Mangrove species including Rhizopora mangle, Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, Conocarpus erecta and R. harrisonii grow alone the salinity gradient in appropriate areas. Uncommon occurrences of Pelliciera rhizophorae and other plant species associated with mangroves include Leather ferns Acrostichum spp., which also invade cut-over mangrove stands and provide some protection against erosion. In this particular ecoregion, the mangroves are associated with the indicator species, freshwater palm, Raphia taedigera. Other mangrove associated species are Guiana-chestnut ( Pachira aquatica) and Dragonsblood Tree (Pterocarpus officinalis).

Reptiles include the Basilisk Lizard (Basiliscus basiliscus), Caiman (Caiman crocodilus), Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and Green Iguana (Iguana iguana). The beaches along the coast within this ecoregion near Tortuguero are some of the most important for nesting green turtles. The offshore seagrass beds, which are among the most extensive in the world, are a source of food and refuge for the endangered Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). Several species of frogsof the family Dendrobatidae are found in this mangrove ecoregion as well other anuran species and some endemic salamander taxa.

Mammal species found in this highly diverse ecoregion include: Lowland Paca (Agouti paca), primates such as Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata), Geoffrey's Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), White-faced Capuchin (Cebus capucinus), Brown-throated Sloth (Bradypus variegatus), Silky Anteater (Cyclopes didactylus) and Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcintus).Also found in this ecoregion are carnivores such as Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis),Central American Otter (Lutra annectens), Jaguar (Panthera onca), Northern Racooon (Procyoon lotor), and Crab-eating Racoon (P. cancrivorus).

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World Wildlife Fund & C. Michael Hogan. 2010."Rio Negro-Rio San Sun mangroves". Encyclopedia of Earth, National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington DC ed.Mark McGinley. updated 2013
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Common basilisk

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The common basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus) is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to Central America and South America, where it is found near rivers and streams in rainforests. It is also known as the Jesus Christ lizard, Jesus lizard, South American Jesus lizard, or lagarto de Jesus Cristo for its ability to run on the surface of water.

Description

The common basilisk can be distinguished from similar species within its range by its large size and the high fin-like crest along its back. Most common basilisks are brown and cream in color. Males also have high crests on the head and tail. Both sexes are brown to olive, and have a white, cream, or yellow stripe on the upper lip and a second stripe along either side of the body; these stripes have higher contrast in juveniles and fade as the lizards age.

Hatchlings weigh a mere 2 grams (0.071 oz) and are 38 to 43 mm (1.5 to 1.7 in) long. Adults can grow to a total length (including tail) of 76 cm (2.5 feet). Females are generally 135 to 194 g (4.8 to 6.8 oz), and weigh half as much as males. The tail comprises 70 to 75% of the total length: for example, a 70-cm-long (27.5-inch-long) common basilisk would have a 50-cm-long (19.5-inch-long) tail. The common basilisk has a large mouth with saw-like teeth on the inner sides of the jaw. While the common basilisk is most known for its ability to run on water, it is also an excellent climber and swimmer, and has been known to stay underwater for up to half an hour. The average lifespan is seven years in captivity; in the wild, it tends to be less because of predators.

When startled, the common basilisk escapes by speeding to the nearest edge of water—and continues sprinting. The lizard runs on only its hind legs in an erect position, holding its forelegs to its sides. The common basilisk is adroit on water because its feet are large and equipped with flaps of skin along the toes that allow it to catch on tiny air bubbles. When moving quickly, the lizard can cross a surface of water before sinking. On water, it runs at an average speed of 24.1 km/h (15 mph), which is just a little slower than its speed on land. Younger basilisks can run 10 to 20 m (33 to 66 ft) on water, while adults cross only a few meters before sinking. Adults do not move slowly, but they weigh more and cannot sprint for as long a time. Once a basilisk submerges, it continues swimming until it is sufficiently far from its pursuer — if the predator has followed past the bank. Although the common basilisk stays close to water to escape terrestrial predators, it swims only when necessary because some other aquatic animals would eat it given the chance.

Geographic range and habitat

The common basilisk is found in tropical rainforests throughout Central America and in northwestern South America, usually living in low elevations, from sea level to 600 m (2,000 ft). In Costa Rica, this basilisk can be found as high as 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in some places. The species ranges from southwestern Nicaragua to northwestern Colombia on the Pacific side, and from central Panama to northwestern Venezuela on the Atlantic side. In Costa Rica, it is mostly found on the Pacific side of the country. The equivalent species on the Atlantic side is the green basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons), which occupies similar habitats and has similar biology.[3] also recently being found in South Florida.

Diet

B. basiliscus is an omnivore; its diet consists of insects, for example, beetles or dragon flies; flowers, and small vertebrates such as snakes, birds, eggs, and fish.[3]

Predators

The common basilisk has many natural predators; large reptiles, birds, and some mammals. To avoid predators, it can conceal itself under leaves on the forest floor and can remain motionless for a long time. When the common basilisk must flee, though, its skill of running on water can help it avoid many predators, and when the common basilisk can no longer run on the water, it will use its strong swimming capabilities to continue underwater.

Reproduction

Females of B. basiliscus lay three to four clutches of 10–20 eggs a year.[3] Eggs hatch after about three months and the young weigh about two grams and are up to three inches long. Their outstanding camouflage allows them to remain undetected when they remain still.

Walking on water

Running on water

The common basilisk, along with the other members of its genus, take the nickname the "Jesus Christ lizard" or "Jesus lizard" because when fleeing from predators, they gather sufficient momentum to run across the water for a brief distance while holding most of their body out of the water (similar to the biblical story of Jesus walking on water).[3] Basilisks have large hind feet with scaly fringes on the sides of the third, fourth, and fifth toes. These are compressed against the toes when this lizard walks on land; but if it senses danger, it can jump into the water, opening up these fringes against the water's surface. This increases the surface area of the foot, thus allowing it to run on the water for short distances.[3] This occurs in three steps. First is the slap, the downward movement of the foot that pushes water out and away from the leg. This also created pockets of air around the foot. Next is the stroke, the backwards movement of the foot, which propels it forward. Next is the recovery, when the foot comes up and out of the water and prepares to do the slap again. Smaller basilisks can run about 10–20 m (33–66 ft) without sinking. Juveniles can usually run farther than older basilisks, while holding more of their body above the water.

Taxonomy and etymology

The common basilisk is named for the creature of Greek mythology made up of parts of a rooster, snake, and lion which could turn a man to stone by its gaze: the basilisk.[3] Its generic, specific, and common names all derive from the Greek basilískos (βασιλίσκος), meaning 'little king'. The specific epithet was given in Carl Linnæus' 10th edition of Systema Naturæ.[3]

References

Wikispecies has information related to Basiliscus basiliscus.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Basiliscus basiliscus.
  1. ^ Acosta Chaves, V.; Batista, A.; García Rodríguez, A.; Vargas Álvarez, J.; Schargel, W.; Rivas, G. (2016). "Basiliscus basiliscus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T203044A2759201. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T203044A2759201.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Basiliscus basiliscus. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Sprackland, Robert George (1992). Giant lizards. Neptune, New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications. 288 pp. ISBN 0-86622-634-6.
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Common basilisk: Brief Summary

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The common basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus) is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to Central America and South America, where it is found near rivers and streams in rainforests. It is also known as the Jesus Christ lizard, Jesus lizard, South American Jesus lizard, or lagarto de Jesus Cristo for its ability to run on the surface of water.

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