Because of this lizards ability to run across water in short distances, in certain circles it has been christened the "lagartija de Jesu Cristo," Jesus Christ lizard Campbell This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.
Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons or periodic condition changes. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal. Referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody usually, but not always, a river or stream. For example: antlers, elongated tails, special spurs.
Bartlett, R. FLorida: Gulf Publishing Company. Campbell, J. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. To cite this page: Wentz, A. Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students.
ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.
Basiliscus vittatus Brown Basilisk Facebook. Geographic Range Basiliscus vittatus is native to Latin America. Biogeographic Regions nearctic introduced native neotropical native Habitat This species can be found in tropical and subtropical wet, moist, and dry forests.
Campbell, Habitat Regions tropical terrestrial Terrestrial Biomes forest rainforest Other Habitat Features riparian Physical Description Males may slightly exceed 2 feet in total length, whereas females are considerably smaller Bartlett Bartlett, ; Campbell, Other Physical Features heterothermic Sexual Dimorphism male larger sexes shaped differently ornamentation Range length 60 high cm Bartlett, ; Campbell, Key Reproductive Features iteroparous seasonal breeding sexual fertilization internal oviparous Breeding interval Striped basilisks breed once yearly.
Range number of offspring 3 to 12 Range gestation period 55 to 65 days Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity female 3 to 12 months Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity male 3 to 12 months Females choose a safe nest site for their eggs.
Bartlett, ; Campbell, Key Behaviors arboreal terricolous diurnal sedentary solitary Food Habits Striped basilisks feed mostly on insects but are reported to sometimes feed on fallen berries Campbell It is very important to be sure that the type of substrate you choose is reptile friendly. Many types of soil are available, but some contain pesticides, fertilizers or perlite. The latter traps water, and while it may help live plants in the enclosure to retain moisture, a basilisk could die if it were to ingest enough perlite, or any pesticide or fertilizer.
Humidity and temperature levels depend on the season. During spring, I maintain the humidity in my basilisk enclosures at 55 to 60 percent, with an ambient cage temperature of 80 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
In the summer, the humidity is raised to 65 to 75 percent with an ambient temperature of 83 to 86 degrees. When fall rolls around the humidity is dropped to 60 to 65 percent with temperatures of 80 to 83 degrees, and during winter humidity is 45 to 55 percent with temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees.
Regardless of the season, my adult basilisks always have access to a basking spot of to degrees. I use watt halogen outdoor floodlights to provide this; they generate a lot of heat and last longer than traditional basking bulbs.
I use I installed dimmers on all of my light switches so I can control the intensity of the light during any particular season. A gallon long fish tank can house up to five hatchling basilisks.
As their bodies grow, so do their personalities and temperaments, so it is highly recommended that you keep a close eye on growing basilisks in case you need to separate them.
A small heat bulb that can produce a basking spot of to degrees is fine for babies, and again, a A large enclosure does not only provide the space to create the perfect display enclosure, but it also reduces and hopefully eliminates the likelihood that your basilisk will engage in nose-rubbing behavior.
Captive basilisks are prone to rubbing their noses along the transparent walls of their enclosure, whether glass or Plexiglas, when they feel stressed from feeling exposed and in the open. Nose rubbing has long been linked to rostral trauma on many reptiles green water dragons are notorious for it. Infections from open wounds caused by constant rubbing may also occur. Whatever momentum the animal builds up results in its internal organs pushing forward when it comes to an abrupt halt by smashing into the glass.
A large enclosure and plenty of hiding places will greatly reduce the risk of nose-rubbing behavior. Some keepers will even go the extra mile by taping a solid barrier, such as a strip of cardboard or aquarium background material, along the bottom of any transparent walls.
In my experience, feeding basilisks can be either incredibly frustrating or incredibly fascinating. If a wild-caught basilisk is what you bring home, then be aware of a few things. First, if the enclosure is not large enough, or does not have enough places in which the lizard can hide and feel safe, then the animal will most likely have a lethargic approach to eating.
It may need an adjustment period before it begins feeding, and this can take as little as a week or as long as a few months. That said, unfortunately, there are also cases in which everything is done perfectly and the animal just never settles in. Basilisks eat a wide variety of foods. This male green basilisk has just finished snacking on raspberries. My first experience with green basilisks was with an imported pair. Once I got them settled into their enclosure, I immediately learned a few things.
One of these was, as mentioned, that females are very aggressive when it comes to food. When I first offered some crickets to my new pair, the male was just making ready to grab one when the female suddenly leaped over him and grabbed not just one, but two crickets. She shook them viciously and jumped away with the crickets still in her mouth. The male basilisk, along with myself, could only watch in a shocked state of awe.
Male basilisks are timid when they are being watched, and for the first couple of weeks after you have brought one home, it more than likely will prefer to remain perched up in the rear of the enclosure, head-bobbing at you, rather then eat. Females, on the other hand, seldom, if ever, have an issue settling in and eating.
Babies and juveniles are offered appropriately sized crickets, small mealworms and an occasional wax worm treat. Subscribe to Western Digs by Email! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Search for:.
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