| Plumed basilisk[1] | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica | |
| |
| Female plumed basilisk | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Corytophanidae |
| Genus: | Basiliscus |
| Species: | B. plumifrons
|
| Binomial name | |
| Basiliscus plumifrons | |
The plumed basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons), also called the green basilisk, double crested basilisk, or Jesus Christ lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Central America.
The plumed basilisk's native range spans southern Mexico and northern Colombia. B. plumifrons inhabits hot, humid rainforests that contain streams, rivers or other water bodies.[3][4][5]
The physical appearance of the plumed basilisk is striking: it sports a bright green color along its body with black and white streaks along its neck and back. Their physical appearance differs by sex, as they are sexually dimorphic; males have a distinct crest on the back and tail and large plumes on top of their heads, while females typically only have a singular, much smaller, crest on their head.[3]
The green crested or plumed lizard is unique in its ability to run across water with speed and the method it employs to do this. It displays the behaviour as a threat response, when fleeing predators. High speed is maintained in order to prevent sinking.[3][6]
This lizard is extraordinarily territorial and is known for its aggressive behaviour to the extent that multiple male lizards cannot be maintained within the same enclosure. However, they do exist in the wild in large groups that allow for multiple males.[3][7]
- ^ "Basiliscus plumifrons ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
- ^ "Basiliscus plumifrons ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ a b c d Kuppert (2013).
- ^ Lattanzio & LaDuke (2012).
- ^ Vaughan et al. (2007).
- ^ Hsieh (2003).
- ^ Pawley (1972).