View source for Basiliscus (lizard)

{{Short description|Genus of lizards}}
{{About|a genus of large corytophanid lizards|the mythological creature|Basilisk|other uses|Basilisk (disambiguation)|and|Basiliscus (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2018}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Basilisks
| image = Brown-basilisk-detail.jpg
| image_upright = 1.2
| image_caption = Brown basilisk, ''Basiliscus vittatus'', Costa Rica
| taxon = Basiliscus
| authority = [[Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti|Laurenti]], 1768
| type_species = ''[[Basiliscus basiliscus|Draco basiliscus]]''
| type_species_authority = [[Linnaeus]], 1758
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = Four, see text.
}}
'''''Basiliscus''''' is a [[genus]] of large [[Corytophanidae|corytophanid]] [[lizard]]s, commonly known as '''basilisks''', which are [[Endemism|endemic]] to southern [[Mexico]], [[Central America]], and northern [[South America]]. The genus contains four species, which are commonly known as the '''Jesus Christ lizard''', or simply the '''Jesus lizard''', due to their ability to run across water for significant distances before sinking due to the large surface area of their feet.
==Taxonomy and etymology==
Both the [[Genus|generic]] name, ''Basiliscus'', and the common name, "basilisk", derive from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''basilískos'' (βασιλίσκος) meaning "little king". The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific epithet]], ''vittatus'', which is [[Latin]] for "striped", was given in [[Carl Linnaeus|Carl Linnæus]]' [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|10th edition]] of ''[[Systema Naturae|Systema Naturæ]]''.<ref name="Sprackland">{{Cite book|last=Sprackland|first=Robert George|author-link=species:Robert G. Sprackland |title=Giant Lizards|publisher=T.F.H. Publications|location=Neptune, New Jersey|year=1992|isbn=0-86622-634-6}}</ref>
==Description==
Basilisks <!-- has blue spots and a yellow iris, --> on average measure {{convert|70|to|75|cm|in|abbr=on}} in total length (including tail)<!-- and weighs about {{convert|80|g|oz|abbr=off}} -->. Their growth is perpetual, fast when they are young and nonlinear for mature basilisks. Their skin is shed in pieces.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
Basilisks are [[oviparous]] and lay 8–18 eggs.<ref name="Vitt and Caldwell 2014"/>
==Running on water==
Basilisks sometimes run [[Bipedalism|bipedally]]. Basilisks have the ability to "run" on water,<ref name="Vitt and Caldwell 2014"/><ref name="National Geographic"/> and because of this, they have been dubbed the "Jesus Christ lizard" in reference to the biblical passage of [[Jesus walking on water]].<ref name="National Geographic">{{cite magazine |author=Roach, John |date=16 November 2004 |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/news-jesus-lizards-basilisks-walk-water |title=How "Jesus Lizards" Walk on Water |magazine=National Geographic |access-date=2010-08-19 }}</ref> On water, basilisks can run at a velocity of {{convert|1.5|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} per second for approximately {{convert|4.5|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} before sinking on all fours and swimming.<ref name="National Geographic"/> Flaps between their toes help support basilisks, creating a larger surface and pockets of air, giving them the ability to run across water.<ref name="National Geographic"/>
A similar behavior, running bipedally across water, is known from the [[sailfin lizard]]s and a few species of [[anole]] lizards.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Leal |first1=Manuel |author1-link=species:Manuel Leal |last2=Knox |first2=Alison K. |author2-link=species:Alison K. Knox |last3=Losos |first3=Jonathan B. |author3-link=Jonathan Losos |title=Lack of divergence in aquatic ''Anolis'' lizards |journal=Evolution |date=2002 |volume=56 |issue=4 |pages=785 |doi=10.1554/0014-3820(2002)056[0785:LOCIAA]2.0.CO;2}}</ref><ref name=Bauer2008>{{cite journal |author1=Bauer, A.M. |author1-link=species:Aaron Matthew Bauer |author2=Jackman, T.R. |author2-link=species:Todd R. Jackmann |year=2008 |title=Global diversity of lizards in freshwater (Reptilia: Lacertilia) |journal=Hydrobiologia |volume=595 |issue=1 |pages=581–586 |doi=10.1007/s10750-007-9115-0 |s2cid=46493725}}</ref>
==Other defense mechanisms==
Basilisks can burrow into sand to hide from predators; a ring of muscles around both nostrils prevents sand from entering the nose.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
==Habitat and geographic range==
Basilisks are abundant in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to [[Ecuador]] and [[Venezuela]].{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
[[File:Monster 2.jpg|thumb]]
==Invasive species==
The species ''Basiliscus vittatus'' (brown basilisk) has been introduced to [[Florida]].<ref>[[Robert Powell (herpetologist)|Powell R]], [[Roger Conant (herpetologist)|Conant R]], [[Joseph T. Collins|Collins JT]] (2016). ''Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition''. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. {{ISBN|978-0-544-12997-9}}. (''Basiliscus vittatus'', p. 276 + Plate 24).</ref> It has adapted to the colder winters by burrowing into [[leaf litter]] for warmth.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} Current reports sight the brown basilisk as far north as [[Fort Pierce]], on the state's [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]], where small groups have crept up the North Fork of the [[St. Lucie River|Saint Lucie River]].{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} Mainly it has been seen in [[Boca Raton, Florida|Boca Raton]] and other cities in [[Palm Beach County, Florida|Palm Beach County]].{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} as seen in this photo taken in West Palm Beach, Florida.
==Classification==
Genus ''Basiliscus'' has four extant species:<ref name=RDB>{{NRDB genus |genus=Basiliscus |access-date=5 June 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Image !! Scientific name  !! Common Name  !! Distribution
|-
|[[File:Common basilisk - Flickr - GregTheBusker (2).jpg|120px]] || ''[[Basiliscus basiliscus]]'' {{small|([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])}}||common basilisk ||  from southwestern Nicaragua to northwestern Colombia on the Pacific side, and from central Panama to northwestern Venezuela
|-
|[[File:Basiliscus basiliscus.jpg|120px]] ||''[[Basiliscus galeritus]]''  {{small|[[André Marie Constant Duméril|A.M.C. Duméril]] & [[Auguste Duméril|A.H.A. Duméril]], 1851}}|| western basilisk, red-headed basilisk  || western Colombia and western Ecuador
|-
|[[File:Green Basilisk, Alajuela, Costa Rica.jpg|120px]] || ''[[Basiliscus plumifrons]]'' {{small|[[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1875}}||plumed basilisk, green basilisk, double crested basilisk || eastern Honduras, through Nicaragua and Costa Rica, to western Panama
|-
|[[File:Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus) (6775707063).jpg|120px]] || ''[[Basiliscus vittatus]]'' {{small|[[Arend Friedrich August Wiegmann|Wiegmann]], 1828}} ||brown basilisk, striped basilisk ||  Mexico, Central America and adjacent northwestern Colombia
|-
|}
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Vitt and Caldwell 2014">{{cite book|title=Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles |edition=4th |first1=Laurie J. |last1=Vitt |author1-link=species:Laurie Joseph Vitt |first2=Janalee P. |last2=Caldwell |author2-link=species:Janalee Paige Caldwell |publisher=Academic Press |year=2014 |page=509 |oclc=839312807}}</ref>
}}
==External links==
*[http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_jesus_lizard.shtml Jesus Lizard Robot] An attempt at building a robotic version of the Jesus Lizard
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041119005948/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/11/1116_041116_jesus_lizard.html How "Jesus Lizards" Walk on Water]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070601193731/http://www.reptilesweb.com/reptile-videos/interesting-clips/jesus-lizard-running-on-water.html Jesus Lizards Walk on Water Video]
==Further reading==
*[[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger GA]] (1885). ''Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. Iguanidæ'' ...'''.''' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I–XXIV. (Genus ''Basiliscus'', pp.&nbsp;106–107).
*[[Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti|Laurenti JN]] (1768). ''Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum''. Vienna: Joan. Thom. Nob. de Trattnern. 214 pp. + Plates I–V. (''Basiliscus'', new genus, p.&nbsp;50). (in Latin).
{{Taxonbar|from=Q256400}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Basiliscus]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti]]
[[Category:Lizard genera]]