It is a nonnative Florida lizard and its population has been increasing over the years.
Basiliscus is a genus of large corytophanid lizards, commonly known as basilisks, which are endemic to southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.The genus contains four species, which are commonly known as the Jesus Christ lizard, or simply the Jesus lizard, due to their ability to run across water for significant distances before sinking. It is a nonnative Florida lizard and its population has been increasing over the years.
short-horned horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii) Cortez, CO, USA. Basilisk Lizard … Checklist of Florida Lizards--Click on thumbnails for a larger view--Agama agama (LINNAEUS 1758), African Rainbow Lizard; [NON-NATIVE].
It's the "brown basilisk lizard."
Native to Costa Rica, Panama, Belize and Columbia, the Brown Basilisk is common in the pet trade and has now become established in the wild in South Florida. These alert, active lizards are quite common along canal banks in Dade county and southern Broward county, as well as in suburban areas and agricultural fields.
See What Happens When Monitor Lizards Fight Over Food. The subspecies that was introduced in all establish populations in Florida was from Togo and Ghana. It is commonly referred to as the striped basilisk or in some areas as the common basilisk. Male species have unique, high crests on their backs and heads. Brown Basilisk. Green Basilisk Habitat: The basilisk species are found in the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The Brown Basilisk actually has large hind feet with flaps of skin between each toe.
short-horned horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii) Cortez, CO, USA.
The first four here are in order of increasing age and size, from a tiny hatchling (cute!)
The average lifespan of this lizard species is about 8-12 years.
The brown basilisk is native to Central and South America, specifically, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama.
The glass lizard is one of Florida’s largest native lizards, sometimes growing to more than 3 feet long. The fifth and last photo shows a subadult basilisk snacking on a Brown Anole, another non-native Floridian lizard. Glass lizards are unique among lizards due to their body type and structure; they are virtually legless and spend much of their time buried in the soil. The Brown Basilisk actually has large hind feet with flaps of … The Brown Basilisk Lizards are agile lizards that climb well and run extremely fast, often on their hind legs.
Kern noted that the basilisk’s nickname, “Jesus Lizard,” is derived from its ability to run across the surface of bodies of water with its web-like feet. Basilisk Lizard’s Size. All of them, experts say, cause mischief in South Florida. Red-headed agama (Agama agama africana), Fairchild Botanical Garden, Miami, FL, USA. Thanks to super speed and specially-designed feet, the basilisk lizard can run on water... an ability that makes it deadly to insects, and has led people to call it the "Jesus Christ Lizard." Red-headed agama (Agama agama africana), Fairchild Botanical Garden, Miami, FL, USA. Some examples of imported lizards are the brown basilisk or Basiliscus vittatus, the knight anole or Anolis equestris and the green iguana Iguana iguana. The mature females are able to lay five to fifteen eggs at a time in warm, damp sand or soil. Ameiva praesignis (BAIRD & GIRARD 1852), Borriguerro Ameiva; [NON-NATIVE]. A warm December day brought out the non-native Florida basilisks again in large numbers. The Brown Basilisk Lizards are agile lizards that climb well and run extremely fast, often on their hind legs. The brown basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus), also commonly referred to as the striped basilisk or in some areas as the common basilisk, is a species of basilisk lizard in the family Corytophanidae.The species is native to Mexico, Central America and adjacent northwestern Colombia, and has been introduced into the U.S. state of Florida as a feral species. These alert, active lizards are quite common along canal banks in suburban areas and in agricultural fields in Southern Florida.