Native to the rainforests of Central and South America, the basilisk lizard (Basiliscus basiliscus) is famous for its near-mythical ability to run on water.
This remarkable skill has earned it the nickname the 'Jesus Christ lizard’, and it uses its long toes, which have fringes of skin, to propel itself across the water at remarkable speed.
The basilisk slaps the surface of water quickly enough to create tiny pockets of air, allowing it to sprint across ponds and streams for several metres before sinking and swimming.
In the BBC wildlife documentary Life, presenter David Attenborough said: "A hunting bird might expect it to flee to the trees. In fact, it does the opposite.
"It drives its feet down so hard and so fast that it never sinks deeper than a few inches. A human would need to run at 65 miles an hour to do this."
There are several species in the Basiliscus genus, with the common basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus) being the most well-known. They are typically green or brown with striking crests on their heads and backs, which are more pronounced in males.
Basilisks are omnivores and eat a wide variety of foods, including insects, small animals, fruits and plants. They are agile climbers and often live in trees, but they’re also quick to drop down to the ground and dash across water if threatened.
Despite basilisks intimidating name, borrowed from a legendary serpent said to kill with a glance, basilisk lizards are harmless to humans.
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