Green Crested Basilisk

Basiliscus plumifrons
Status: Least Concern
Size: Up to 3 feet long tip of nose to tail.
Habitat: Rainforests
At the Zoo: Reptile House

The genus for this lizard, Basiliscus, is taken from the legendary reptilian creature of European mythology which could turn a man to stone by its gaze.  It is also called the Jesus lizard because of its ability to run across water for significant distances before sinking.

In good habitat the green crested basilisk is quite common in the humid lowlands on the Atlantic coast from eastern Honduras to western Panama and on the Pacific coast in southwestern Costa Rica and adjacent Panama.

There are four species of basilisks and the green is the largest.  More basilisks are being harvested for the pet trade, although at present this does not appear to be a major threat as many in the trade are captive bred.

Photos
Cover by Bradley Buhro, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Top by Jasper Nance, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Bottom by Sergiu Bacioiu, Wikimedia Creative Commons