Common basilisk (Basilicus basilicus), Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
The basilisk is a large lizard, named after the mythical creature of the same name, whose glance alone could kill. Not mythical however, is the ability of this reptile to walk on water. With great rapidity, it can manage all of 1.5 m on its long toes, before it sinks and swims. Interestingly, the basilisks I saw on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica were greatly in excess of the 20 cm nose to tail length quoted in Chacon and Johnston Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica. This one I would estimate to have been three times as long. No other Costa Rican reptile matches the appearance of the above, however I always welcome comments on identification.
170317 228-2
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All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer, who can be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail.
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Common basilisk (Basilicus basilicus), Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
The basilisk is a large lizard, named after the mythical creature of the same name, whose glance alone could kill. Not mythical however, is the ability of this reptile to walk on water. With great rapidity, it can manage all of 1.5 m on its long toes, before it sinks and swims. Interestingly, the basilisks I saw on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica were greatly in excess of the 20 cm nose to tail length quoted in Chacon and Johnston Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica. This one I would estimate to have been three times as long. No other Costa Rican reptile matches the appearance of the above, however I always welcome comments on identification.
170317 228-2
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All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer, who can be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail.
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