Species Fact Profile: Plumed Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)

Plumed (Green-Crested) Basilisk

Basiliscus plumifrons (Cope, 1875)

Range: Central America (Honduras through Panama)
Habitat: Lowland Rainforest, often near water
Diet: Insects, Small Vertebrates, Snails, Flowers, Fruit
Social Grouping: Males are territorial, possessive of groups of females in their territories
Reproduction: Females lay 5-15 eggs in warm, damp soil, which hatch after an incubation period of 8-10 weeks.  Females may lay multiple clutches per season.  Young basilisks receive no parental care.  The young become sexually mature at 18-24 months
Lifespan: 5-10 Years
Conservation Status: IUCN Least Concern

• Largest of the basilisk species with a total length of up to 90 centimeters, more than two-thirds of which is made up of tail
• Bright green (lighter on the underside) with black bands on the tail and small bluish spots long the back.  Adult males have three prominent sail-like crests: one on the tail, one on the back, and one on top of the head.  Females only have the one on the head.
• Sometimes called "Jesus Christ Lizards" for their ability to run bipedally across the surface of the water for short distances to avoid predators.  Smaller, younger basilisks are able to do it more easily than larger adults.  Also excellent swimmers and can stay underwater for up to 10 minutes
• Predators include raptorial birds, snakes, opossums, and small mammalian carnivores, such as coatis and small wild cats
• Name "Basilisk" refers to the reptilian monster of European mythology (later immortalized in the Harry Potter series), which was the King of Serpents (the crest of an adult basilisk resembles a crown) could turn its victims to stone by looking at them
• Still common over much of range, but in decline in some areas due to loss of forest habitat.  There is also some collection for the pet trade, though this does not appear to be a series threat (the species is commonly bred in captivity for the pet trade)

Zookeeper's Journal: A common critique that anti-zoo folks often lodge against zoos is that we don't need them anymore (for educational purposes, at least) because we have so many other ways of learning about animals, such as video.  While I would never discount the value that I believe people gain from seeing animals up close and developing a real connection with them, I am also increasingly becoming a fan of supplementing exhibits of live animals with other educational sources, including videos.  The plumed basilisk is a great example way.  Its most famed ability - running across the surface of the water - is not a behavior that could easily be displayed in person in a zoo... and considering that the lizards only do it when frightened, nor should we want them to.  At any rate, what would you do - scare the lizard every day at 2:00 for a scheduled demonstration?  Instead, having video to supplement the exhibit would allow visitors to appreciate and marvel at this unique behavior, all while not causing unneeded stress to the animal.  Frankly, all of the basilisks that I've ever worked with have been high-strung enough.  I see no justification for adding to that.