Western Basilisk

About the Western Basilisk

The western basilisk (Basiliscus galeritus), also known as the red-headed basilisk, is a large species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to northwestern South America. The specific name, galeritus, which is Latin, means "wearing a hood", referring to the head crest.

B. galeritus inhabits forests at altitudes of 0–1,600 m (0–5,249 ft) in western Colombia and western Ecuador in South America. Earlier reports of its occurrence in Central America are mistaken and actually refer to young of the closely related common basilisk.

Males of B. galeritus reach a total length (including tail) up to about 77.5 cm (30.5 in), while females reach about 63.5 cm (25.0 in). Its body color is olive-green with a reddish-brown underbelly. The throat is white to yellow. On the back it has a small crest similar to that of young individuals of the common basilisk. It may have a narrow white stripe or a row of white dots on each side. It has no back flap. The adult males bear a round head flap/crest.

The western basilisk has been introduced to Gorgona Island, Colombia. This species is not... Wikipedia →