A basilisk lizard cannot be confused with anyone because of its ability to ridiculously move and run on water. Basilisk (Greek "little king") is called because of its similarity to a monster that resembles a rooster, a snake and a lion, which can turn a person into a stone with a look (Greek mythology).
These lizards can run through the water on their hind limbs from 1.5 to 4.5 meters before settling on all fours for swimming. Due to the basilisk running through the water (the photo depicts this process), the reptile is called "Jesus Christ."
Habitat
There are a lot of basilisks in the tropical forests of Central America. Their habitats extend from southern Mexico to Panama. Reptiles spend most of their time in trees near water. When lizards are in danger, they jump into the water (in a vertical position).
Description
The basilisk belongs to the iguana family. The lizard grows to approximately 80 cm in length, including the tail, which accounts for 70 to 75% of the total body length. The animal weighs less than 2 grams when hatched, and more than 500 grams weighs an adult. Females and males are brown to olive in color with a white, cream or yellow stripe on the upper lip and small stripes on the sides of the body. They are more contrasting in young individuals and disappear as the basilisk matures.
The lizard has long limbs with thumbs and sharp claws. The abdomen is usually yellow, the mouth is large and has many sawtooth teeth located on the inner sides of the jaw.
On earth, a lizard is capable of speeds up to 11 km / h. Despite the fact that these strange animals are best known for their ability to run on water, they are also excellent climbers, swimmers and even divers! Adults can be under water for up to half an hour!
In captivity, individuals usually reach the age of 7 years. Nevertheless, their average life expectancy in the wild is considered much less due to predators (snakes, birds, turtles, possums). Today, these bizarre reptiles are on the verge of extinction, therefore they are under protection.
Behavior
Basilisk lizards are diurnal animals, so they are most active during the day, spending most of their time near water. At night they sleep on the branches. Masking by the color of leaves is their main way of protecting against predators. By the way, males divide the territory, therefore violation of "personal space" entails a conflict.
Nutrition
These reptiles are omnivores. Their diet consists of:
colors;
insects (beetles, ants and dragonflies);
small vertebrates (snakes, birds and their eggs, and fish).
Breeding
Females are smaller in size, they weigh about 200 grams. Males are distinguished by high crests on the head and back, which they use to impress females.
A female lizard reaches puberty at the age of 20 months, while males mature after 16 months of life. Nevertheless, males cannot actually mate until they have achieved sufficient status in the hierarchy of dominance, and this may take 3-4 years.
The breeding season can last up to ten months. In January and February, mating is rare in this type of reptile, like a basilisk. A female lizard, being pregnant, prepares a shallow trench in which it then lays up to 20 eggs. Then the mother leaves them, and the babies must hatch on their own. On average, this occurs after approximately 88 days. Young children can swim in water from birth.
Walk on water
Most animals that try to walk or run through the water immediately drown, since water, unlike hard soil, provides little support or resistance.
In order to understand how the basilisk lizard (photo is in the article) moves along the surface of the water, work was carried out to observe and fix the run. Pictures give a complete picture of this miracle. Using computer programs, researchers compare adjacent frames of the video, so you can see how the balls of water move, supporting the amphibian on the surface. This allows the reptiles to calculate strength and prevent them from drowning.
Basilisks are running on water with the help of their long fingers on their hind limbs with fringe. They unfold in water, increasing the surface area of the contact. The principle of such movement can be determined in three stages.
First, the foot slams on the water and pushes off its surface, with air pockets forming around it. Next is the movement of the foot backward, and the body of the lizard is pushed forward. At the end, the limb rises up from the water, cotton again occurs, and the cycle continues. The maximum distance traveled depends on the size and weight of the lizard. Young individuals, as a rule, cover longer distances (from 10 to 20 m) than the older generation (up to 4.5 m).
This run is similar to riding a bicycle, but the moment the pedaling stops, the bicycle stops, loses balance and falls. It also happens when a basilisk (lizard) runs through the water. The reptile keeps on a surface only under condition of continuous work with legs.
These reptiles of South America remain one of nature's most mysterious creatures.