Helmeted basilisk (basiliscus basiliscus). Helmeted Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) Green Basilisk

Helmeted Basilisk(lat. Basiliscus basiliscus ) is an arboreal lizard that lives in humid tropical forests Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia and Panama. Prefers to stay in thickets along river banks.

Adult lizards reach a length of up to 60-80 cm. The basilisk's tail makes up almost two-thirds of the length of its body. They are excellent swimmers, able to stay underwater for up to half an hour. They also run well and quickly, sometimes reaching ground speeds of up to 11 km/h. It has the ability to run on water, keeping its body on the surface by rapidly alternating kicks of its hind legs.

The helmeted basilisk got its name because of its bright green color and distinctive crest starting on the head and ending on the tail. The crest on the head of males is larger than that of females.

“It was a basilisk - green as lettuce, with bright eyes, a male about 14 inches long ... losing his balance, he fell like a stone into a black river, immediately plunged into the water, but a moment later found himself on the surface and ran across the water. carried in front of him, his tail bent upward, and with his hind legs he thrashed the surface of the water with the speed of a machine gun. The speed of the splashing was so significant that the lizard did not drown. Before we had time to figure out how he was doing it, the basilisk reached land, climbed onto the shore and scurried away through the branches..." wrote Archie Carr, an American zoologist.

Helmeted basilisks are omnivores, feeding on greenery covered with dark leaves, a small amount of vegetables, and insects ( earthworms, crickets, mealworm larvae), snails, small frogs.

Mating in basilisks can last up to 20 minutes. Pregnant females become fat after 2-3 weeks, at the same time they begin to look for a place to lay eggs.

Each clutch contains 9-18 eggs. A female basilisk can lay eggs up to 4-5 times during the breeding season. Sexual maturity occurs at 1.5-2 years.

Which is more often than other animals from the genus Basilisks kept in terrariums. The size of an adult reptile reaches 60-80 cm in length, about two to three of which is the length of the tail. The color of the helmeted Basilisk varies from bright green to brownish-olive. But offspring bred in captivity often have a bluish-green color. The belly of this lizard is yellow. Along the back of the lizard you can see small white or blue spots, and on the sides there are black stripes along the entire body to the tail. As the Basilisk gets older, these spots and stripes may become more blurred or disappear altogether. This color allows basilisks to remain unnoticed when they are hidden and sitting on branches. On these long fingers you can see sharp claws, which help this species, which leads a semi-arboreal lifestyle, easily move through the tropical forest.

A distinctive feature of males is a sail-shaped crest that adorns the head, back and extends to the tail. On the head, this crest resembles a helmet in shape and consists of two parts, different in size, which is why the species is called helmet-bearing. Moreover, the female has only a smaller crest on her head, while males have both of them. Also distinctive feature males have a blue-yellow throat pouch, which they inflate to show their superiority in territorial competition.

These animals owe the name “basilisk” to their mythical past, in which they were considered very dangerous animals due to the fact that they were little explored. And therefore they began to be called “snake king”, which is exactly how the word “basilisk” sounds in translation from Greek.

Another alternative name often seen is “Jesus lizard.” Basilisks received this name due to their ability to move across the surface of water over long distances. To escape from predators, basilisks can travel up to 20 meters, running on the surface of the water at speeds of up to 11 km/h. This is made possible thanks to anatomical structure Basilisk.

Their hind legs are much stronger and larger than their front legs and have special skin bags located around the toes. These skin sacs open and fill with air only in water. In order to keep the skin sacs around the basilisk's toes from filling with water (this will weigh down its paws and prevent it from "sliding" through the water), it must move its hind legs very quickly - this is why basilisks run so quickly through the water. At the same time, it raises its front paws and tail above the water. The tail also plays very important role in this process, it helps balance, and therefore the basilisks do not throw it away when attacked by predators. When the hind paws are not on the water, these skin bags are closed so as not to increase the friction force when running. This allows basilisks to run well not only on water, but also on land.

Origin and habitats in nature:

The genus Basilisk (Basiliscus) belongs to the Corytophanidae family. Previously, this genus was classified as a family (Iguanidae), but relatively recently, herpetologists identified nine species of helmeted lizards as a separate family. The family consists of three genera: Basiliscus, Corytophanes, and Laemanctus. In turn, the genus Basilisk consists of four main species: Basiliscus basiliscus (common basilisk), Basiliscus galeritus (crested basilisk), Basiliscus plumifrons (helmeted basilisk) and Basiliscus vittatus (Mexican striped basilisk).
The helmeted basilisk species inhabits the tropical forests of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama from the Caribbean Sea.

The habitats of the helmeted Basilisk are in most cases located in lowlands located 500 m below sea level, but there have been cases when basilisks were found in areas 1200 m above sea level.

Lifestyle:

This is a lizard that leads a diurnal, semi-arboreal lifestyle, and therefore can often be found on trees and bushes growing near rivers and reservoirs. Sometimes in nature, helmeted basilisks can be seen on stones or logs, where they bask in the rays of the tropical sun. Wherever you meet this amazing woman, it will in any case be a place hidden from prying eyes.

If you get a little closer to the basilisk, it may not even move. But if you come too close, then the lizard will quickly jump into the water and, taking advantage of its amazing ability to run on water, will so quickly disappear from your field of vision or slip away among the bushes that you won’t even have time to understand anything.
In addition, the helmeted basilisk is an excellent swimmer with complete immersion in water. There have been cases when the basilisk spent up to 2 hours being completely immersed in water.

The helmeted basilisk is one that lives strictly on certain territory, where you can only meet one male and two or three females. Two males do not get along in the same territory, but it is worth noting that this is a species of gregarious lizards, and they must necessarily live as a family, since otherwise they begin to get bored and this can lead to the death of the animal if it is not placed in a family in time. However, it is necessary to ensure that the young are separated from the adults, since the stronger adults can eat the weaker ones (the young). Disputes are also often observed among females, but they are less pronounced; the main thing is that the number of females in one territory does not exceed three.

Basilisks often become prey birds of prey, large fish and mammals. And if they can escape from enemies who hunt only during the day, then here are the mammals that lead night look life often overtakes basilisks while they are sleeping.

It is important to note that for keeping it is necessary to choose only basilisks bred in captivity, since those caught in wildlife animals almost never live long, as they tolerate transportation and changes in living conditions very poorly.

Terrarium: To keep the helmeted basilisk you will need one equipped with a pool. Minimum size a terrarium for two or three adult individuals should be 130x60x170 cm. The size of the pool should be at least the size of the lizard. The water in the pool must be changed every day, or it must be equipped with filters similar to an aquarium. You can also keep small, unpretentious fish in the water, such as guppies, this way you will provide the basilisks with the opportunity to hunt prey in the water, diversifying their diet. But in any case, the water must be changed as it becomes contaminated in order to avoid the appearance of harmful microorganisms.

Content temperature: The background temperature in the terrarium during the day should be 28-30 ºC, night temperature can drop to 20-25 ºC. The temperature at the heating point can reach 35-38 ºC.

Lighting: Daylight hours for basilisks should be 12-14 hours. As is the case with other tropical lizards, basilisks need to be installed (for example,). It must be placed at a sufficient distance from the placed snags so that the lizard does not get burned.

Humidity maintenance: The humidity in the basilisk terrarium must be maintained at 70-90%. At the same time, the humidity should be higher at night than during the day. In addition, during the tropical rainy season, it is recommended to spray the terrarium 3-4 times a day using a spray bottle. To maintain humidity, it would be an excellent solution to install a small waterfall that will flow into the pond. In this way, the issue of water flow in the pool can also be resolved.

Decor: Basilisks are quite active lizards; they definitely need a place closer to where they can warm up after swimming. In addition, they love to move around the terrarium, where for this they need to place several thick driftwood that could support all the individuals living in the terrarium at once. It is also necessary to place it in case the lizards want to hide. . As with other tropical lizards, live, non-poisonous plants with dense leaves can be placed in a basilisk terrarium. But you should be prepared for the fact that sooner or later your pets will damage them with their sharp claws. In this case, the plants must be replaced.

Feeding in captivity:

The helmeted basilisk is a fairly omnivorous lizard. They should be offered mainly insects as live prey: . Adults can also be fed small mice and small non-poisonous fish.

In the wild, basilisks consume flowers and leaves as plant food. tropical plants. Basilisks bred in captivity can be trained to eat plant foods that are not included in their diet in the wild. Such food includes sprouted wheat, as well as pieces of bananas, soft pears, oranges and other fruits, soft vegetables, and berries.

Feeding in captivity must be supplemented.
Young basilisks need to be offered food once a day, but adults can be fed 3-4 times a week.

Breeding in captivity:

The helmeted basilisk becomes sexually mature at the age of 1.5-2 years. Basilisks can reproduce all year round. Females are capable of laying several clutches per year, which consist of 8-18 eggs. The female's pregnancy lasts approximately 2 months, after which she lays eggs. All eggs laid are covered with a leathery shell and should have an even white color.

Females should be closely monitored and if they increase in size in the area abdominal cavity, then a container should be placed in the terrarium. It is recommended to choose a plastic container, about 20 cm high. At the bottom of the container you need to put a layer of sand, 2 cm thick, and a layer of moss, 6 cm thick. The substrate in the masonry container must always be moistened. As soon as the female has finished laying and weaned, she can be transferred to the incubator. The incubation process is 26-31 days, with constant temperature at 26-34° C. The helmeted basilisk does not have the instinct to care for offspring, and therefore young individuals cannot be left with adults, as they can be eaten by their parents.

After hatching, the offspring of helmeted basilisks can not be fed for two days, since during this time they absorb the protein obtained from the egg. After which you can start offering them a crushed mixture of bananas, pears and apples. Small basilisks prefer to stay in thickets near water. They are very careful, timid and agile - this is what saves them in the wild from numerous enemies.

Helmeted Basilisk(Basiliscus plumifrons)

Class - reptiles
Order - scaly

Family - corytophanidae

Genus - basilisks

Appearance

Adult lizards reach a length of up to 60-80 cm. The basilisk's tail makes up almost two-thirds of the length of its body.

The helmeted basilisk got its name because of its bright green color and distinctive crest starting on the head and ending on the tail. The crest on the head of males is larger than that of females.

Habitat

Inhabits the tropical rainforests of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia and Panama.

Prefers to stay in thickets along river banks.

Lifestyle

They are excellent swimmers, able to stay underwater for up to half an hour. They also run well and quickly, sometimes reaching ground speeds of up to 11 km/h. It has the ability to run on water, keeping its body on the surface by rapidly alternating kicks of its hind legs.

Helmeted basilisks are omnivores, feeding on greenery covered with dark leaves, a small amount of vegetables, insects (earthworms, crickets, mealworm larvae), snails, and small frogs.

Reproduction

Mating in basilisks can last up to 20 minutes. Pregnant females become fat after 2-3 weeks, at the same time they begin to look for a place to lay eggs. Each clutch contains 9-18 eggs. A female basilisk can lay eggs up to 4-5 times during the breeding season. Incubation period is 8-10 weeks. Sexual maturity occurs at 1.5-2 years.

If you are going to buy a basilisk, it is better to take a pair - a female and a male, this will make it easier for them to live in captivity. To keep these lizards you need a spacious vertical type with swimming pool. The minimum size of the terrarium is 130x60x70 cm. The pool should be such that the lizard can fit in entirely. Since basilisks, unfortunately, have a habit of quickly polluting water, it will have to be changed frequently. Another way out is to design the pool according to the principle of an aquarium, providing it with a filter system. In this case, you can even plant aquatic plants and launch some cheap and unpretentious fish. Then the animal will be content, having the opportunity to diversify its menu with fish, and observing the underwater activities of the lizard will be much more interesting!

Basilisks are very mobile, so in a small terrarium you should not use live plants - just put a snag on which the animals will spend most time. But if it’s large enough, then with the help of living plants you can create a corner of a real tropical forest! Plants must be strong enough so that your pets do not break them when moving.

Daylight hours for a basilisk are 12-14 hours. The illumination may not be very high, but extra light will not hurt. Daytime background temperature is 26-33°C (- up to 35°C). Like many other reptiles, basilisks require local heating. It can be organized using an incandescent lamp with a reflector, a mirror-coated lamp, or a special heating lamp for reptiles. It is necessary to install such a lamp at some distance from the snag - moving along it, the animals themselves will choose a place with a suitable place for them. temperature conditions. To avoid thermal burns, place the heater in such a way that the lizard cannot get close to it. The animal should also be able to crawl to a cooler area of ​​the terrarium to avoid overheating.

At night time optimal temperature is approximately 24°C. Relative humidity quite high - 80-90%, which requires daily spraying of the terrarium. Moisturizing can be done twice a day using a sprayer. indoor plants. By the way, basilisks love to be sprayed! Like many tropical reptiles, basilisks need ultraviolet irradiation.

In captivity, you can offer them products that are sold in a pet store, or you can teach the basilisk to eat foods that are not typical for them in the wild, for example, of plant origin: sprouted wheat grains, pieces of fruit (bananas, oranges, pieces of sweet pears) or cottage cheese, which By the way, it is very useful for them. Lizards in captivity need calcium, so it is recommended to debon it before feeding. feeding insects in crushed eggshell.

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, good care she can live quite a long time, longer than 10 years.

Habitat in nature

Habitat four existing types Basilisks are located on the territory of the 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 from their place and full speed run away 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 different kinds 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

Natives Central America, basilisks nevertheless endure enough 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. Constant access to water, a large body of water where they can splash, is important for them. 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.

Titles: helmeted basilisk, green basilisk.
Habitat: Central America.
Lifespan: 7 years.

The helmeted basilisk is an arboreal lizard native to the tropical rainforests of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia and Panama. Prefers to stay in thickets along river banks.

The helmeted basilisk got its name because of its bright green color and distinctive crest starting on the head and ending on the tail. The crest on the head of males is larger than that of females.

Adult lizards reach a length of up to 60-80 cm. The basilisk's tail makes up almost two-thirds of the length of its body. They are excellent swimmers, able to stay underwater for up to half an hour. They also run well and quickly, sometimes reaching ground speeds of up to 11 km/h. It has the ability to run on water, keeping its body on the surface by rapidly alternating kicks of its hind legs.

The terrarium contains many artificial plants that create hidden places. The daytime temperature is on average about 29.4"C (in the heating area - 35.5"C), in the cool part of the terrarium - 26.6"C. At night the temperature is reduced to 21"C.

For lighting and heating, lamps with a full spectrum of ultraviolet radiation are used for 12-13 hours a day.

The terrarium maintains high humidity (80-90%). A wide shallow saucer with fresh water. Once a day, water is sprayed over the substrate. The substrate is soil or a slightly damp mixture of peat moss, soil and sand.

Helmeted basilisks are omnivores, feeding on greenery covered with dark leaves, a small amount of vegetables, insects (earthworms, crickets, mealworm larvae), snails, and small frogs. Sometimes you can add some fruit to your diet. Don't forget to sprinkle the food with calcium powder and reptile vitamins (2 times a week).
Young basilisks are fed once a day, adults - 2 times a week.

To successfully breed helmeted basilisks in captivity, proper humidity, temperature and light must be maintained at all times. Basilisks reproduce when high humidity(about 80%) and at average temperatures of 26.6 "C, the duration of daylight hours is 12 hours. Before the breeding season, males and females are separated from each other.

Mating in basilisks can last up to 20 minutes. Pregnant females become fat after 2-3 weeks, at the same time they begin to look for a place to lay eggs.

Each clutch contains 9-18 eggs. A female basilisk can lay eggs up to 4-5 times during the breeding season. Eggs are incubated at a temperature of about 28.8 "C in a mixture of water and vermiculite (1 part water and 1 part vermiculite). The incubation period is 8-10 weeks. Sexual maturity occurs at 1.5-2 years.

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