Helmeted basilisk (basiliscus basiliscus). Basilisk: a lizard that walks on water Basilisk lizard runs

Basilisk is not so much a scientific term as a literary one. In the Dark Middle Ages, this was the name given to a fantastic creature with the head of a rooster, the body of a toad and the tail of a snake. But it turns out that in nature there is a real reptile with this name and it can do some “magic”. What kind of animal is this?

Double-crested basilisk ( Basiliscus plumifrons).

Biologists refer to basilisks as 4 species large lizards, reaching a length of 1.4-2 m. True, 70% of their body length falls on a thin tail, therefore, despite large size, basilisks are quite light and defenseless. Like their related iguanas, they have a crest on their backs, but these reptiles owe their name not to it, but to the leathery decorations on their heads. Obviously, because of the similarity of these formations to a cock’s comb, they were named after the mythical monster. Another feature of the physique is the long toes on the hind legs. Sometimes it seems that they prevent the basilisks from moving, but in fact the opposite is true.

This piercing gaze also belongs to the basilisk. All species of these lizards have eyes yellow- another feature that gives them a resemblance to a dragon.

All 4 species of these lizards live in the north South America, throughout Central America and southern Mexico. Recently, basilisks came to Florida and learned to tolerate lower temperatures here, hiding in forest floor. They inhabit only rain forests and dense thickets along the banks of reservoirs. Usually these lizards sit on the lower branches of trees and roots protruding from the water.

A male double-crested basilisk at rest.

But as soon as danger appears, they instantly take flight, and depending on the location of the animal, two defense strategies are used. If it is far from the water, then the basilisk quickly buries itself in the sand or litter, and to prevent sand from getting into its nose, the lizard’s nostrils close with special valves. In this position, he is able to remain motionless for a long time. If a body of water is nearby, then the basilisk rushes headlong into the water and runs as hard as it can... along its surface! This may seem like a fiction, but all individuals without exception have the ability to move on the surface of the water without drowning, and these are the only animals in the world that can move like this! By the way, the basilisk runs through the water like a dragon, that is, exclusively on its hind legs, which is also quite unusual for reptiles. We can say that walking on water is as easy for these animals as it is for us to walk down the street. For this they are sometimes called “Jesus lizards,” because it was Christ who first demonstrated such a miracle. But if the Bible explains the miracle of Christ by the presence God's power, then what helps basilisks run?

Basilisk demonstrates the miracle of walking on water.

In fact, the secret of unsinkability is quite simple. The long toes of the hind legs distribute the weight of the animal over a larger area; in addition, when running, the scales on the toes protrude, which makes running easier. In addition, the basilisk thrashes its paws so quickly that it simply does not have time to drown (the speed reaches 1.5 m/s). However, this method of movement requires a lot of energy, so the lizard only has enough strength to run 3-4 m, after which it plunges into the water and then swims as if nothing had happened. Since young individuals weigh less than older ones, their running distance is somewhat longer - 10-20 m. Obviously, the biological meaning of this behavior is to make a saving throw and at a critical moment to distance themselves as much as possible from the enemy.

The helmeted basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) is one of the most unusual lizards that can be kept in captivity. Bright green in color, with a large crest and unusual behavior, it resembles a miniature dinosaur.

But, at the same time, the helmeted basilisk needs a fairly spacious terrarium, and it is nervous and completely tame. Although this reptile is not for everyone, with good care it can live quite a long time, longer than 10 years.

Habitat in nature

Habitat four existing types Basilisks are located throughout Central and South America, from Mexico to the coast of Ecuador. The helmeted one lives in Nicaragua, Panama and Ecuador.

They live along rivers and other water basins, in places abundantly heated by the sun. Typical places are thickets of trees, dense reeds and other thickets of plants. In case of danger, they jump from branches into the water.

https://youtu.be/gq9f4hI4wwI

Helmeted basilisks are very fast, they run superbly and can reach speeds of up to 12 km/h, and can also dive under water in times of danger. They are quite common and do not have any special conservation status.

• The average size of a basilisk is 30 cm, but larger specimens are also found, up to 70 cm. Life expectancy is about 10 years.
• Like other types of basilisks, helmeted ones can run on the surface of the water for considerable distances (400 meters) before plunging into it and swimming. For this feature they are even called “Jesus lizard”, alluding to Jesus, who walked on water. They can also stay underwater for about 30 minutes to wait out danger.
• Two-thirds of the basilisk is the tail, and the crest on the head serves to attract the attention of the female and for protection.

Basilisk runs in the water:

In nature, helmet-bearing basilisks, at the slightest danger or fear, take off and run away at full speed, or jump from branches into the water. In a terrarium, they can crash into glass, which is invisible to them.

So good idea keep them in a terrarium with opaque glass, or cover the glass with paper. Especially if the lizard is young or caught in the wild. A terrarium measuring 130x60x70 cm is sufficient for only one individual; if you plan to keep more, then choose a more spacious one.

Since they live in trees, there should be branches and snags inside the terrarium that the basilisk can climb. Live plants are also good, as they shelter and camouflage the lizard, and help maintain air humidity.

Suitable plants are ficus, dracaena. It is better to plant them so that they create a shelter where the timid basilisk will be comfortable.

Males cannot tolerate each other, and only basilisks of different sexes can be kept together.

In nature:

Substrate

Acceptable various types soils: mulch, moss, reptile mixtures, rugs. The main requirement is that they retain moisture and do not rot, and are easy to clean. The soil layer is 5-7 cm, usually this is enough for plants and to maintain air humidity.

Sometimes, basilisks begin to eat the substrate, if you notice this, then replace it with something completely inedible. For example, a reptile mat or paper.

Lighting

The terrarium needs to be illuminated using UV lamps 10-12 hours a day. UV spectrum and length daylight hours are critical for reptiles as they help them absorb calcium and produce vitamin D3. If the helmeted basilisk does not receive the required amount of UV rays, it may develop metabolic disorders.

Please note that the lamps must be changed according to the instructions, even if they do not fail. Moreover, these should be special lamps for reptiles, and not for fish or plants.
All reptiles should have a clear separation between day and night, so lights should be turned off at night.

Heating

Native to Central America, basilisks nevertheless carry quite a bit of low temperatures, especially at night. During the day, there should be a heating point in the terrarium, with a temperature of 32 degrees, and a cooler part, with a temperature of 24-25 degrees.

At night the temperature can be around 20 degrees. For heating, you can use a combination of lamps and other heating devices, such as heated stones. Be sure to use two thermometers, one in a cool corner and one in a warm corner.

Water and humidity

In nature, helmeted basilisks live in quite humid climate. In the terrarium, the humidity should be 60-70% or slightly higher. To maintain it, the terrarium is sprayed with water daily, monitoring the humidity using a hydrometer. However, too high humidity is also bad, as it promotes the development of fungal infections in lizards.

Basilisks love water and are excellent dives and swimmers. It is important for them to have constant access to water, a large body of water where they can splash around. It could be a container, or a special waterfall for reptiles, that’s not the point. The main thing is that the water is easily accessible and changed daily.

Feeding

Helmeted basilisks eat a variety of insects: crickets, zoophobus, mealworms, grasshoppers, cockroaches.

Some eat naked mice, but these should only be given occasionally. They also eat plant foods: cabbage, dandelions, lettuce and others.

They need to be cut first. Adult basilisks need to be fed plant foods 6-7 times a week, or insects 3-4 times. Young, twice a day and insects. The food should be sprinkled with reptile supplements containing calcium and vitamins.

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Have you ever heard about a lizard that can run on water? Today you will have a great opportunity to meet her - after all, this is helmeted basilisk! We will tell you not only about the reptile’s habitat, but also about keeping it at home.

Description of the helmeted basilisk

Helmeted Basilisk– it’s more likely ancient lizard 30 cm long, weighing 250-600 g. The first thing that catches your eye is the long fingers with rather sharp claws. But, special part occupies the tail of a reptile, growing to almost 2/3 of the body length. Are you probably interested in running on water? It's true the helmed basilisk has this ability, allowing you to keep your body on the water thanks to alternating strikes of your hind legs on the water. In addition, the lizard is excellent swimmer, underwater without air for about half an hour. Basilisk accelerates on water at a speed of 12 km/h and can easily run 400 meters!

HABITAT AND LIFESTYLE OF THE HELMET BASILISK

Where do helmeted basilisks live?

Helmeted Basilisk is common in South and Central America, as well as in Florida.

The reptile reaches sexual maturity only at 1-5-2 years of age, but as soon as lizards reach this age, they begin mate more than once, because at one time the female can lay 3-4 eggs, and in a year from 10 to 20.

Helmeted basilisks feed mainly insects, small vertebrates such as birds, fish and snakes, but also plants and flowers.

Contents of the helmeted basilisk

Certainly, for content any reptile needs a terrarium in which you can install trees, branches, driftwood and various plants(dracaena, ficus). Moss, mulch and their mixture are excellent as soil (apply a layer of 5-7 cm). Of course, the terrarium must have lighting, the correct temperature and humidity. To ensure your pet can absorb calcium and regularly receive vitamin D, install a UV lamp, but only for 10-12 hours daily. Maintain the temperature in the terrarium at 24-25 degrees during the day and 20 at night.

You must understand that in nature helmeted basilisk lives with a humidity of 60-70%, which is why it is so important that he feels comfortable. Monitor the same humidity using a hydrometer, or spray your reptile's home yourself every day. A pond wouldn’t hurt either, because the basilisk loves water very much, it’s its element, so to speak. Your pet will definitely be grateful for such a purchase, where he can splash around and just relax.

At home you can feed your pet with crickets, mealworms, cockroaches, zoophobes, grasshoppers, cabbage, dandelions, lettuce. It is best to cut the plants before serving, but it is not recommended to leave only one type of food; it is best to alternate. We feed, for example, 4 times a week with plant food, and 3 times with live food. Nutrition daily!

So we found out that helmed basilisk really runs on water, and that it can be kept at home, like many reptiles. Follow our recommendations and your pet will be healthy and happy.

VIDEO: ABOUT LIZARDS

IN THIS VIDEO, WE OFFER YOU TO LEARN A LOT OF INTERESTING ABOUT HELMED BASILISKS

Basilisk, also called basilisk, is quite unusual and beautiful name for a simple lizard. Why exactly this lizard received it, there are two versions. The first says that she has a fold of skin on her head that resembles a crown. And the word basilisk, translated from Greek, means king of the snake.

The second version, more mythical, found similarities in the lizard with the invented basilisk, which had a rooster’s head with a tuft, the body of a frog and a long snake tail.

Types of basilisks

Scientists call lizards basilisks large sizes, which grow up to one meter long. But, despite such parameters, the individual itself is small because only one third of the animal is its body. Everything else - long tail Basilisk.

They are divided into four types, which differ in color, size and location.

— Basilisk vulgaris or helmet-bearing - inhabits the Center of America and Colombia.

— Double-crested basilisk- lives in the Panamanian and Costa Rican forests.

— Mexican striped basilisk- His homeland is Mexico and Colombia.

— Crested Basilisk, it lives in the Panamanian, western Colombian and Ecuadorian rainforests.

Description and character of the basilisk lizard

These lizards live in the countries of Mexico and America. They are inhabitants of wet tropical forests and everything is yours free time they sit on trees and bushes that grow near water. They also love to bask in the sun, climbing on a stone or dry branch.

Females and males of basilisks differ slightly in appearance. For example, a female is smaller than her male. A large fold of skin in the form of a triangular ridge grows on the head of male basilisks; in females it is practically invisible.

The crest also grows along the entire length of the back and up to half of the tail. Nature gave them such differences for a reason. Males actively guard their possessions, so they wear this outfit to intimidate uninvited guests.

If the male encounters a stranger on his territory, he inflates the skin pouch located on his throat, showing his aggression and superiority over the enemy.

For females, everything is different; like all women, they like to gather in a group near some eligible groom, and wash all his bones. And their instinct of self-preservation is more pronounced; girls prefer to remain invisible, disguising themselves as some kind of twig.

Lizards live in families; one male, as a rule, has two or three females, but nothing more, otherwise the women will not get along. Families of lizards live in one place and do not migrate anywhere.

Basilisks have very long fingers and large claws at the ends of their fingers. They need claws of this length to move freely through trees and bushes, and to sit on a branch for a long time, firmly grasping it.

These ancient animals weigh from two hundred grams to half a kilogram. But there are also larger specimens. The color of basilisks can be grassy green, or light brown with an olive tint.

Zoologists have noticed that lizards bred in captivity differ in color, with turquoise shades predominating. Their belly white, and light spots are visible on the back.

Although these lizards have a slightly unpleasant appearance, they are very timid by nature. And as soon as they feel alarm and danger, they immediately start to run away.

But this is only if they are not far from the water. And if there is no rescue reservoir nearby, they have no choice but to fall through the ground, that is, bury themselves in it.

They hide in the forest floor of fallen leaves, rotten twigs and branches, or instantly burrow into the sand. To prevent sand from getting into the animal’s nostrils, it has special protective partitions there that slam shut. right moment and block all exits and entrances.

And just like that, with its nostrils closed and completely immobilized, the lizard can be for a long time until she is completely sure that her life is not in danger.

They breed all year round, females lay eggs several times with an interval of three to four months between clutches. One clutch can contain up to ten eggs.

After two and a half months, the offspring are born, but they immediately have to leave their parental home and look for a place to live. Otherwise, the basilisk predator can easily eat its child.

Basilisks have many enemies in the water, on land and in the air. And if they can notice and hide somewhere in the thickets, then from some mammals leading night look life, lizards suffer the most.

Features of the basilisk lizard

Basilisks are the only ones in everything globe that are able to run on water. They do this when danger threatens, they run as fast as they can, on their hind legs, and don’t even think about drowning.

I wonder how they do it? The solution is simple, it's all about the paws. First of all, their fingers, they are so long that when immersed in water, they capture an air bubble with them, the leg does not sink.

Then between them there are small membranes that help to push off the water well. And of course the speed of movement, because out of fear, it reaches ten to twelve kilometers per hour. So, run By water basilisk maybe up to half a kilometer. Then, quite tired, he dives under the water and does not emerge for a whole half an hour!

Basilisk at home

The main thing you need to know when buying a lizard is that it is domestic. An individual caught by poachers and brought in later has very little chance of survival. During catching and transportation, she suffered enormous stress and, as a result, all the animal’s diseases worsened.

The terrarium should be voluminous and tall; its optimal size for one individual is two hundred liters. You need to plant a lot of greenery in the basilisk's new home; they will really like a ficus tree or dracaena.

Don’t forget about dry tree branches, snags and stumps, on which the lizard will warm its body under the lamp. It would be nice to install a pool; you can use a smaller aquarium.

It is already known that basilisks are shy, so the walls of the terrarium should be visible to the lizard. Use paper to cover the outside of them, or tint the windows with something.

Otherwise, following its instincts, frightened, the lizard will start to run and then it will definitely crash glass wall, since it is not visible to the animal.

It is very important that basilisks live in pairs, but under no circumstances should you house two males. They will fight among themselves until one is left.

Basilisk food

The basilisk lizard is a carnivorous animal, so ninety percent of its diet should consist of meat, the rest is plant food. Animals are very fond of newborn rats, mice and lizards.

You can also throw pieces of raw fish into a pool or aquarium. They will like various midges and insects, cockroaches and locusts, grasshoppers and worms.

Small lizards are fed several times a day and only with live food, always sprinkled with a nutritional supplement for reptiles. And an adult animal is fed four times a week, adding plant foods to the diet.

The terrarium should be heated with heating lamps, they are placed with reverse side so that the animal does not get burned. Only one half of the home needs to be made warm, the other half ten degrees cooler. You need to place two thermometers in the lizard’s house for constant monitoring. temperature regime.

Purchase an ultraviolet lamp for reptiles to control the lizard's daylight hours, it should last at least twelve hours.

This will significantly improve the body’s absorption of calcium, the animal will receive the required amount of vitamin D, and metabolism will be normalized. By following all the rules of keeping, the animal has every chance of living hand in hand with you for ten years.

The helmeted basilisk is an unusual lizard from the genus Basilisk. In my own way appearance she is very similar to a dinosaur. Helmet-bearing basilisks have the ability to float on the surface of the water and run quite quickly across it. They live in tropical forests, in thickets near rivers or in trees.

At night, reptiles sleep, and in the morning they go hunting. Their prey can be various insects, as well as chicks and even small fish, which they snatch directly from the water.

The character of basilisk lizards is quite timid. There are many in the jungle voracious predators that hunt them. Many lizards do not even live to be two years old, as they become their prey. Basilisks are constantly on the alert and at the slightest danger they immediately take flight.

The task of sexually mature males is to protect the territory. Females are responsible for food.

These lizards can be kept in captivity. At proper care, their lifespan can be about ten years. Basilisks are completely safe for humans. They are not aggressive or poisonous.

Description of the helmeted basilisk

This is a fairly large lizard with a bright green color. On the sides of the reptiles there are light inclusions. Basilisks have a small head with a wide mouth. On the back of their head they have a flat outgrowth about four centimeters long, which resembles a helmet. This is where these unusual lizards got their name.. On the back of these reptiles there is a crest, which is covered with vertebral processes. It is larger in males than in females. Basilisks have short forelimbs with long claws. The toes of the muscular hind limbs have a scaly edge.

Male weight maybe about 600 grams, but the weight of females is no more than 400 grams. The body length of these amazing lizards can reach 80 cm. The tail occupies two-thirds of the length of the lizard's entire body.

Helmeted basilisks are excellent swimmers and divers. These animals are able to stay under water for about half an hour. On land, lizards also move very quickly. They can reach speeds of about ten kilometers per hour.

Maintenance and care of helmeted basilisks

Lizards can be kept in captivity, but for this they need a spacious vertical terrarium. For one adult basilisk you need a terrarium, the volume of which should be about 200 liters. It should contain plants that imitate thickets. There should also be branches and various driftwood that will serve as an imitation of trees.

For lighting and heating the terrarium, special lamps for reptiles are used. ultraviolet radiation. They must work about 13 hours a day. During daylight hours, the temperature should be about 29 degrees, and at night it can be reduced to 21 degrees Celsius.

Since the habitat helmeted basilisks are wet tropical forests, then the humidity in the terrarium should be high (about 80%). In order to maintain it, it is necessary to spray the terrarium with water. Worth knowing that excessive humidity can contribute to the development of fungal infections in basilisks.

The character of helmet-bearing lizards is nervous and excited. It is very difficult to tame these animals. Only lizards of different sexes can be kept together. Two males should never be kept together. They cannot stand each other, they will constantly sort things out and start fights among themselves.

Diet of helmeted basilisks

Helmeted basilisks are omnivores. Their diet may include:

Twice a week you should add special vitamins for reptiles to your food. And also do not forget that food must be sprinkled with calcium.

Young lizards need to be fed twice a day. Adults are fed four times a week.

Reproduction of helmeted basilisks

To breed lizards was successful, it is necessary to properly house these animals. The following factors are of great importance when breeding:

1. Temperature.
2. Humidity.
3. Lighting.

Basilisks are considered sexually mature at one and a half to two years. They mate in about 20 minutes. Three weeks after pregnancy occurs, females begin to look for a suitable place to lay eggs. A clutch may contain more than fifteen eggs. Females can lay eggs about five times during the breeding season. Incubation period lasts about ten weeks. Then small basilisks are born. The body length of young reptiles is about 11 cm. Basilisks grow quite quickly. First days of newborns feed on the contents yolk sacs. When they are empty, young lizards go hunting for the first time.