Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Green Basilisk

Green Basilisk lizard is one of the most interesting and bizarre animals in the world. Go on http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/green-basilisk-lizard/, on this website you can learn about this lizard in more detail. The website discusses its abnormal trait that allows it to walk on water and also more about the lizard itself.

Jesus Christ lizard as most call it, is other wise known as the Green Basilisk. This reptile can be found mostly in Central America. Its habitat is usually in the rain forest anywhere in Central America.  These animals tend to be omnivores, which means that their diet mostly consists of plants, fruit and sometimes insects. Basilisk males are very territorial to their homes. In addition, this lizard has one of the most amazing skills known to man, it can walk on water. Yes, this lizard can literally "walk" on water. To be more realistic the lizard actually runs on the water. Majority of times these lizards like on trees and branches, but when predators approach they tend to do something out of the norm. Furthermore, these lizards drop off the tree or off the branch into the water. Once on the water they start to run. "To accomplish this, they have long toes on their rear feet with fringes of skin that unfurl in the water, increasing surface area. As they rapidly churn their legs, they slap their splayed feet hard against the water, creating a tiny air pocket that keeps them from sinking, provided they maintain their speed." Sense these lizards live in the rain forest they are surrounded with predators so these lizards have to stay on their toes. Basilisk have one of the most bizarre adaptations that allows them to run across the water which is why this animal is a bizarre but interesting animal.

No comments:

Post a Comment