Earlham -- Biological Diversity --

Biological Diversity 2003

Image courtesy of Robby Lourcey

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Lacertilia

Family: Corytophanidae

Genus: Basiliscus

Species: Basiliscus basiliscus

Amination courtesy of Animal Pictures Archive.

Conservation Organizations

International Union for Conservation of Nature.

This website is "the" place for finding information about a species you want to look up and whether or not it is on the endangered species list.

http://www.redlist.org

UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre

The World Conservation Monitoring Centre is another great website for gaining information about a particular species.

http://www.unep-wcmc.org/index.html?http://quin.unep-wcmc.org/isdb/taxonomy/~main

Wildlife Conservation Society

Cool website on conservation in terms of wildlife thourghout the world. Today WCS is at work in 53 nations across Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America, protecting wild landscapes that are home to a vast variety of species from butterflies to tigers.

http://wcs.org/

WWF The Conservation Organization

Interesting website on conservation, formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund. Now known as World Wide Fund for Nature.

http://www.panda.org/index.cfm

Center for Applied Biodiversity Science

The mission of the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS) is to strengthen CI's ability to identify and respond to elements that threaten the earth's biological diversity.

http://www.cabs.conservation.org/xp/CABS/home

Conservation International

CI applies innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth's richest regions of plant and animal diversity in the hotspots, major tropical wilderness areas and key marine ecosystems.

http://www.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/home

Jim W. Glasheen and T.A. McMahon wrote a paper explaing how the basilisk lizard can walk on water. It was feature in Nature entitled: A hydrodynamic model of locomotion in the Basilisk lizard. The above picture is part of a video that capture a basilisk walking on water. Below is the link to the abstract to the paper.

http://quiz.thphy.uni-duesseldorf.de/96/F01.96a.html

Common Basilisk
Basiliscus basiliscus
Golfito, Costa Rica (Picture courtesy of Ribbit Photography)

Common Basilisk
Basiliscus basiliscus
Puntarenas, Costa Rica (Picture courtesy of Ribbit Photography)

Picture courtesy of Wildherps.com

Common Basilisk Lizard

Introduction

The Common Basilisk lizard is a wonderful species to investigate. The Basilisk lizard are known as the "Jesus Christ Lizard" because of its ability to walk on water. There are several types of baslisk lizards and they are as follow: Green Basilisk , Plumed Basilisk, Double-Crested Basilisk= Basiliscus plumifrons, the Brown or Striped Basilisk = Basiliscus vittatus, the Western or Red-Headed Basilisk = Basiliscus galeritus.

Physical Appearance: Green turquoise, or brown coloring. Basilisks have teeth that are fused to the inner sides of their jaws. These reptiles have a long, whip-like tail, eyelids, four sprawling legs, and a body covered with overlapping scales. The body is laterally compressed (a cross-section of the body is tall and thin). The outer edges of the toes have long, fringe-like scales that help it walk on water. A large, flat, lobed crest adorns the back of the basilisk's head. Male basilisks reach the greatest size (in comparsion to the females) and has a crest on the occiput and a large dorsal crest covering the back. This crest is supported by elongations of the neural spines. Basilisks range from 2 to 2.5 feet (0.6 - 0.8 m) long. They can run up to seven miles per hour. (Enchantedlearning.com, 2000-2003) Basilisks are excellent climbers, swimmers, and jumpers. When on the ground, they are able to run at great speed but at a slower rate when they revert to a quadrupedal gait.

Range: Basilisks can be found throughout Central America from the South of Mexico to Panama. (Terra Magazine, 1994)

Habitat: Their habitats can vary from shores of rivers and lakes to trees. (Terra Magazine, 1994) Aboreal organisms, Humid, tropical areas like rainforests . (Enchanted learning.com 2000-2003)

Feeding: Omnivores. Basilisks are carnivores (meat-eaters). They usually eat the following: Insects(grasshoppers and crickets), Arachinids(including spiders) Worms, Fruit, Flowers, Small Fish, Baby Birds, and Small Snakes. Like other lizards, the basilisk can store fat in its tail. (Enchantedlearning.com, 2000-2003)

amination courtesy of clip-art.com

Predators: Large snakes and some large birds like Quetzal.

Behavior: Males are territorial! Head bobbing as threat; gesture and courtship behavior, easily frightened

Breeding: A female will dig a shallow trench in moist soil in which she will lay 18-20 eggs. After covering the eggs with soil, there is no more parental care. When the eggs hatch (after an incubation period of about 8 to 10 weeks), the young live in trees and eat insects that they catch themselves.
Up to 4-5 clutches per season; Average lifespan is about seven years. (Enchantedlearning.com, 2000-2003)

The Basilisk picture to the left was brought to you by wildherps.com

Conservation Status

The Common Basilisk Lizard is currently not an endangered species on any of the conservation lists such as International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCP), CITES or UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Conservation Issues

Partners in Amphibians and Reptile Conservation has listed six threats to amphibians and reptile worldwide:1. Habitat - Many researchers believe that the loss of suitable habitat is the largest single factor contributing to the decline of both amphibians and reptiles. 2. Diseases and Parsites - Parasites and disease have been documented or suspected as causes for declines in several amphibian and reptile species. 3. Global Climate Change - Climate change is the most nebulous and controversial of the threats to herpetofauna. Increases in ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation and global temperatures are viewed as potentially harmful to a variety of species. 4. Environmental Pollution - Numerous contaminants, including metals, pesticides, and organics from industry and agricultural wastes, may have negative effects on both amphibians and reptiles 5. Unsustainable Use - Unsustainable use of some of some amphibians and reptiles has been pervasive, severe, and long-lasting on a world-wide basis. 6. Invasive Species - Introduced species of plants and animals, including non-native herp species, are a problem for many amphibians and reptiles throughout North America and other parts of the world.

Here is the link for information about Latin America and the Caribbbean region and the its problems in terms of biodiversity. (Provided by WWF - The conservation organization)

http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/latin_america_and_caribbean/problems.cfm