Helm-bearing basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons). Helmeted Basilisk (basiliscus basiliscus) Distribution and behavior
The helmeted basilisk is an unusual lizard from the genus Basilisks. In appearance, it is very similar to a dinosaur. Helmeted basilisks have the ability to stay on the surface of the water and run quite quickly on it. They live in tropical forests, in thickets near rivers or in trees.
At night, the reptiles sleep, and in the morning they go hunting. Their prey can be various insects, as well as chicks and even small fish, which they snatch directly from the water.
The nature of basilisk lizards is rather shy. There are many in the jungle voracious predators that hunt them. Many lizards do not even live up to two years, as they become their prey. Basilisks are constantly on the alert and, at the slightest danger, they immediately take to their heels.
The task of sexually mature males is to protect the territory. The females are responsible for food.
These lizards can be kept in captivity. With proper care, their life expectancy can be about ten years. For humans, basilisks are completely safe. They are not aggressive or poisonous.
Description of the helmeted basilisk
This is a fairly large lizard with a bright green color. On the sides of the reptiles there are light blotches. Basilisks have a small head with a wide mouth. On the back of the head they have a flat outgrowth about four centimeters long, which resembles a helmet. This is where these unusual lizards got their name.. On the back of these reptiles is a crest, which is covered with vertebral processes. It is larger in males than in females. Basilisks have short forelimbs with long claws. On the fingers of the muscular hind limbs there is a scaly border.
Male weight maybe about 600 grams, but the weight of females is not more than 400 grams. The body length of these amazing lizards can reach 80 cm. The tail occupies two thirds of the length of the entire body of the lizard.
Helmeted basilisks are excellent swimmers and divers. These animals are able to stay under water for about half an hour. On land, lizards also move very quickly. They can reach speeds of about ten kilometers per hour.
Maintenance and care of helmeted basilisks
Lizards can be kept in captivity, but for this they need a spacious vertical terrarium. For one adult basilisk a terrarium is required, the volume of which should be about 200 liters. It should contain plants that mimic thickets. And also there should be branches and various snags that will serve as an imitation of trees.
To light and heat the terrarium, special lamps for reptiles with ultraviolet radiation are used. They have to work about 13 hours a day. During daylight hours, the temperature should be around 29 degrees, and at night it can be reduced to 21 degrees Celsius.
Since the rainforests are the habitat of the helmet-bearing basilisks, the humidity in the terrarium should be high (about 80%). In order to maintain it, it is necessary to spray the terrarium with water. Worth knowing that excessive moisture can promote the development of fungal infections in basilisks.
The character of helmeted lizards is nervous, excited. It is very difficult to tame these animals. Only heterosexual lizards can be kept together. Two males should never be kept together. They can not stand each other, they will constantly sort things out and arrange fights among themselves.
Feeding helmeted basilisks
Helmeted basilisks are omnivorous. Their diet may include:
Twice a week it is worth adding special vitamins for reptiles to food. And also do not forget that food must be sprinkled with calcium.
Young lizards need to be fed twice a day. Adults are fed four times a week.
Reproduction of helmeted basilisks
To breed lizards was successful, it is necessary to properly manage these animals. The following factors are of great importance in breeding:
- Temperature.
- Humidity.
- Lighting.
Basilisks are considered sexually mature at one and a half, two years. They mate for about 20 minutes. Three weeks after the onset of pregnancy, females begin to look for a suitable place to lay their eggs. A clutch may contain more than fifteen eggs. During the breeding season, females can lay eggs about five times. The incubation period lasts about ten weeks. Then small basilisks are born. The body length of young reptiles is about 11 cm. Basilisks grow quite quickly. First days of newborns feed on the contents of the yolk sacs. When they are empty, young lizards go hunting for the first time.
- kind of basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) noticeably differs in its appearance from other iguanas, they have a kind of skin decoration, which gives them an unearthly, and even a fabulous look.
The helmeted basilisk has a bright green color, which makes them invisible among bushes and trees. The males of helmet-bearing basilisks are rather large lizards, there is a skin outgrowth on the back of their head, which is more reminiscent of a large flat helmet, 4 cm high. A high crest also runs along their back and oar-shaped tail, which is covered with spinous and highly developed vertebral processes. Males and females of this species, on the surface of the fingers of the hind limbs, have a scaly border. Surprisingly, these lizards have the ability to hold on and at the same time run very quickly on the surface of the water.
In the helmet-bearing basilisk, in comparison with other species of this genus, the body length can reach from 50 to 80 cm, while they become heavier and can no longer stay on the surface of the water. They are also very good divers and excellent swimmers. On land, they are able to run across, as well as fly over a long distance, pushing only with their hind limbs.
The basilisk was nicknamed the "dragon" because it is very similar to a small copy of the dragon, and for the unique ability to run on water, some call them (the lizards of Jesus Christ). Helm-bearing basilisks feed mainly on living insects. Central America is inhabited by 4 known species of basilisks. They live in woody overgrown areas, or settle along the banks of tropical rivers.
The helmeted basilisk (lat. Basiliscus basiliscus) is a species of lizard from the basilisk genus. - diurnal lizard with long fingers and sharp claws. The prefix "helmet" received for the crest, which stretches from the head to the tip of the tail. The crest on the head of males is larger than that of females.
Most basilisks are up to 30 cm long and weigh 200-600 g, but there are also specimens up to 75 cm long. The tail of a basilisk is almost two thirds of its body length.
They are excellent swimmers, able to stay under water for half an hour. They also run well and fast, sometimes reaching ground speeds of up to 11 km/h.
If you watch the video of the Basilisk race (Basiliscus), then you get the impression that he is simply levitating on the water surface.
Of course, science could not lose sight of such an interesting phenomenon, so it launched a copy of the lizard into the pool, illuminated the surface of the water with lasers, and filmed the process of running on a high-speed camera. The result is interesting.
It turns out that the basilisk does not run on the water, but rows with its paws (paws without membranes, by the way), but it does it quickly and powerfully enough, which allows it to stay on the surface and not sink.
On the surface of the water, a basilisk can run up to 400 meters at a speed of 12 km / h.
And here is another runner arguing with the law of Archimedes and gravity :)
Sexual maturity occurs at 1.5-2 years. During the season, the female lays 3-4 clutches of 10-20 eggs. The incubation period is 8-10 weeks. Newborn lizards weigh about 2 g.
Basilisk mating 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.
Helmeted basilisks feed on insects, plant flowers and small vertebrates (snakes, fish, birds and their eggs). Basilisks are preyed upon by birds of prey, larger snakes, fish and reptiles.
Basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus) can be safely called one of the most interesting and brightly colored representatives of the iguana family (Jguanidae). The ancient Greeks called the basilisk a fabulous monster that killed people with its eyes. The name was introduced into taxonomy in 1768 by von Laurenti. The appearance of these completely harmless tree lizards fully justifies their name - adult males have a high wedge-shaped skin ridge on the back of the head, a high skin fold runs along the back and front of the tail, supported by elongated spinous processes of the vertebrae. Together with the throat sac, the head helmet and dorsal crest, which are extremely common in iguanas, serve as signal organs that serve as an indicator of the animal's condition both during the mating season and at the moment of danger! awn. Four types of basilisks are distributed over a vast territory - from southern Mexico to northern South America. The main color of basilisks is greenish or brown, often there are stripes or spots on this background. Animals swim and dive well.
They feed on insects, fish, tadpoles, fruits. Most often in terrariums they contain the helmet-bearing basilisk Basiliscus basiliscus, reaching a length of 90 cm. Hans-Günter Petzold (Germany) writes that basilisks have repeatedly bred in captivity. More detailed data on the reproduction of the helmet-bearing basilisk in captivity is provided by Jiri Nidl (Czech Republic). In 1970, the herpetological station in Chlum (Czech Republic) received a pair of young basilisks brought from Yucatan as a gift from Professor Vogel. The male weighed 170 g with a length of 34 cm, the female - 110 g with a length of 59 cm. Basilisks were kept in a terrarium with a capacity of 160x100x160 cm, which had a reservoir. Sand and moss litter (Leucobryum sp.) were used as a substrate, the temperature was 24–29°C. Basilisks were fed crickets, cockroaches, newborn mice, live fish, vegetables, bananas and apples. By the end of the year, the male weighed 195 g, the female - 120 g.
Soon, a clutch of eggs was discovered - 5 pieces measuring 18x13 mm. The eggs were laid in the moss. Some time later, a second clutch was found, and after another six months, a third. A total of 15 eggs were laid. The eggs were incubated at a temperature of 24-28°C, river sand was used as a substrate (the thickness of the sand layer was 2 cm), on which a 6-cm layer of moss was laid. The moss pillow in which the eggs lay was regularly sprinkled with water. Of the hatchlings, only six survived. A month and a half later, nine more eggs were laid, from which the cubs hatched. The brood was fed fruit flies, flies, small spiders, cricket and small tree beetle larvae, and banana and apple pulp. Copulation itself has never been observed. Young basilisks were raised by I. Needle Jr. Three lizards were kept in a 50x40x30 cm terrarium heated by a 75 W lamp. The temperature was constantly maintained at the level of 26-34°C. It remains to add that, obviously, it is necessary to move the male away from the female for some time. Otherwise, frequent egg laying will occur, and the animal's body will be depleted.
You want to have a basilisk...
Currently, on the territory of the CIS, basilisks are bred in Tula, Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk, from where they spread to other regions. Contact the pet stores in your city or directly to the breeders of reptiles. Animals bred in captivity are usually healthy, of excellent quality, adapted to living conditions next to humans. In addition, you will be provided with the necessary information for their successful maintenance and breeding.
Before us is a male green helmeted basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) - one of the four representatives of the genus of basilisks and the great, great ... great-grandson of that legendary mythical monstrous basilisk dragon. According to the description of Pliny the Elder (1c), the basilisk was endowed with a supernatural ability to kill not only with poison, but also with a look, breath, from which grass dried and rocks cracked. Our modern "granddaughter" is much safer. It is certainly not poisonous, although the jaws have retained sufficient power, and the teeth are sharp. The bite of an adult male is quite painful, and the lizard can also scratch with well-developed claws. But it usually doesn't come to that. Having a size of about 80 cm (and the length of the tail is about 3/4 of the total length of the animal), the basilisk, despite its hypertrophied conceit, is aware of the difference in weight categories and gives way to a person. Unless you show enviable persistence and chase the animal, first jumping on the fanciful branches of tropical trees, then from a considerable height rush after him into the river and manage to run several tens of meters through the water at a decent speed, or you will have to dive to the bottom and try to find an animal lurking in muddy water. As you can see, it is hopeless to compete with the dragon, it is universal. In general, bipedalism, or in other words the ability to move with one pair of limbs, is a rather rare feature of some modern reptiles. Basilisk is one of them. Phenomenally developed hind legs and long scaly-edged fingers allow the lizard to run swiftly not only on land but also on water. In this case, the front paws are pressed against the body, and the tail acts as a balancer and rudder.
Attention! Transportation.
It is necessary to transport basilisks individually in opaque hard boxes with wet filler (strips of wet foam, paper, etc.). If the travel time exceeds 15 hours, transportation in small plastic terrariums equipped with a drinker is highly desirable. The temperature during transportation should not fall below 15° and rise above 30°.
Male basilisks are extremely territorial. Within their territory, they do not tolerate the presence of another male, and if the stranger does not retreat after the theatrical performance, during which the lizards swell up, protrude their throat bags and nod to each other, then the conflict can escalate into a bloody fight, possibly fatal for one of the rivals. On the site of a male, from one to several females can simultaneously live. Stronger males, as a rule, do not offend their girlfriends and, on the contrary, from time to time they themselves receive small beatings from them. Females, as befits females, sometimes weld among themselves, but usually without serious consequences. Seasonality in the tropics is weakly expressed, so the reproduction of basilisks continues throughout the year. During this time, the female makes several clutches, each of which contains 8-16 eggs. The timing of incubation in nature is not known, and in the case of artificial incubation at t? 27-28 ° C, the young will hatch in 75-85 days. Young dragons keep in dense thickets along the banks of water bodies. They are completely defenseless and can suffer even from their predatory parents. Rescues only caution and innate agility.
Terrarium device
A pool is required, the size of which should at least allow the lizards to completely submerge in the water. Basilisks often defecate into the water, so if the reservoir is small, then a daily change of water is necessary, in the case of a large pool, well-organized filtration will help. A large reservoir can be arranged in the form of an aquarium with soil, aquatic plants, snails, fish (preferably cheap, because lizards will reduce their number from time to time). It is not recommended to place live plants in a small terrarium, as energetic pets will quickly render them unusable, so be content with artificial ones. By correctly arranging live plants, in a large aviary you can create a unique image of a rainforest. In general, the larger the room you set aside for basilisks, the more aesthetic pleasure you will receive.
As befits a real dragon, the basilisk is a predator. In fact, any animal of a digestible size can become its victim, whether it be an insect or a lizard, a small rodent or a bird, a fish or another aquatic organism. Noticing the prey, the basilisk jumps rapidly, sometimes over a fairly long distance, as if grabbing it. If the victim resists or is too large, the dragon will torment it until it is completely killed. Paradoxically, dragons also have enemies. First of all, these are large birds and mammals that hunt basilisks at night, when they sleep and are vulnerable. There is another alien enemy - man. In addition to the destruction of natural habitats for the sake of their economic needs, dragons are also purposefully captured, which are then transported to the commercial network of trade in exotic animals of various countries. 90% of basilisks caught in nature die at various stages of capture, transportation, overexposure at dealers, in pet stores and, finally, directly from amateurs. So, brothers, and in the dragon's fate, our role with you, as a rule, is determined by the sign "-"
Conditions of detention
Daylight hours are 12-14 hours. The light level may not be high, but again, more light will not hurt. Average daily temperatures are recommended within 26-29°C. Local heating is required, carried out by means of an incandescent lamp with a reflector or a lamp with a mirror coating. Focus it on a specific area of the driftwood where the temperature should rise to 35°C. Recommended night temperatures are from 18° to 24°C. Spraying is desirable, but not required. Basilisks love when water is sprayed directly on them, while they close their eyes blissfully.
Can rainforest cutting be stopped? Most of the countries in which the jungle grows are underdeveloped countries, the political and economic background of which is unlikely to change the situation for the better in the near future.
The diet of basilisks in captivity consists mainly of forage insects such as crickets, cockroaches, zophobas larvae. You can offer locusts, although lizards do not like them very much. Once a week it is useful to give newborn mice or rats. Basilisks love small lizards, so when you are out of town, do not be too lazy to catch a few pieces for your pet, this will be a real delicacy for him. Some individuals take small fish from tweezers, but this type of food should not be abused. The share of plant foods in the diet is small and depends on a number of factors. So, according to some amateurs, young basilisks raised together with herbivorous iguanas (Iguana iguana) of a similar size, imitating the latter, learned to eat a wide range of various foods, including cottage cheese and sprouted grains of wheat (which, by the way, is very useful).
On the contrary, some experts paint a grim outlook for the eventual disappearance of tropical rainforests by 2020. Also in the animal trade market, as long as there is demand, all new batches of basilisks crippled by barbarian captures will be removed from nature.
UV radiation, vitamins, minerals
When choosing a UV irradiator, first of all, consult with reptile breeders who have tested one or another type in practice, because. frequency, exposure time, distance from the irradiator to the animal - these are the most important parameters that the seller in the electrical goods store cannot specify to you. Since this is a topic for a separate article, here is one of the possible options. Household UV irradiator produced by the Kharkov plant ZEMi-1, the frequency of irradiation is 1 time per week, the exposure time is 8-10 minutes, the distance to the animal is 1-1.5 meters. Try to keep the lizard from looking at the lamp during exposure or shade its eyes.
Many terrariumists, especially beginners, consider the use of vitamin preparations a decisive factor in determining success in keeping and breeding reptiles. In this regard, let me advise, focus on the quality of food for your pets. Provide a varied, complete diet for the same crickets, cockroaches, food rodents and as a result, be sure that the lizards will get enough nutrients and vitamins. In captivity, lizards, especially juveniles and pregnant females, are usually deficient in calcium. Sprinkle crushed eggshells on insects before feeding and problems with calcium metabolism will disappear.
Large-scale breeding in captivity is perhaps the only real way that will allow, firstly, to significantly reduce the intensity of exploitation of natural populations and, secondly, in the long term to create a satellite population of animals kept in captivity.
Basilisk, also called basilisk, is a rather unusual and beautiful name for a simple lizard. Why this particular lizard received it, there are two versions. The first says that she has a skin fold on her head that resembles a crown. And the word basilisk, translated from Greek, means - snake king.
The second version, more mythical, in the lizard found a resemblance to the invented basilisk, which had a cock's head with a crest, a frog's body and a long snake tail.
Types of basilisks
Scientists call basilisks large lizards that grow up to one meter long. But, despite such parameters, the individual itself is small because only one third of the animal is its body. Everything else is a long basilisk tail.
They are divided into four types, which differ in color, size and place of residence.
- common basilisk or helmeted - inhabits the Center of America and Colombia.
- Two-crested basilisk- lives in the Panama and Costa Rican forests.
- Mexican striped basilisk- His homeland is Mexico and Colombia.
- Crested Basilisk, it lives in the Panama, western Colombian and Ecuadorian rainforests.
Description and nature of the basilisk lizard
These lizards live in the countries of Mexico and America. They are inhabitants of tropical rainforests and all their free time they sit on trees and bushes that grow near the water. They also like to bask in the sun, climbing on a stone or a dry branch.
Females and males of basilisks look slightly different from each other. For example, a female is smaller than her male. A large skin fold in the form of a triangular ridge grows on the head of male basilisks; in females, it is practically not noticeable.
The crest also grows along the entire length of the back and up to half of the tail. Nature gave them such differences for a reason. Males actively guard their possessions, so they have this outfit to intimidate uninvited guests.
If the male meets a stranger on his territory, he inflates the skin sac located on his throat, showing his aggression and superiority over the enemy.
With females, everything is different; they, like all women, like to gather in a company near some enviable groom, and wash all the bones for him. Yes, and their instinct for self-preservation is more pronounced, the girls prefer to remain invisible, disguising themselves as some kind of twig.
Lizards live in families, one male, as a rule, has two or three females, but no more than that, otherwise the women will not get along. Families of lizards live in one place and do not migrate anywhere.
Basilisks have very long fingers and large claws at the ends of the fingers. They need claws of this length to move freely through trees and shrubs, to sit on a branch for a long time, firmly grasping it.
These ancient animals weigh from two hundred grams to half a kilogram. But there are also larger ones. The color of basilisks can be grassy green, or light brown with an olive tint.
Zoologists have noticed that lizards grown in captivity differ in color, turquoise shades predominate in them. Their belly is white, and light spots are visible on the back.
Although these lizards have a slightly unpleasant appearance, they are very shy by nature. And as soon as they feel anxiety and danger, they immediately take to flight.
But this is the case if they are not far from the water. And if there is no rescue pond nearby, they have no choice but to fall through the ground, that is, burrow into it.
They hide in the forest floor of fallen leaves, rotten knots and branches, or instantly burrow into the sand. To prevent sand from getting into the nostrils of the animal, there it has special protective partitions that slam shut at the right time and block all exits and entrances.
And so, with closed nostrils and completely immobilized, the lizard can stay for a long time until it is completely sure that nothing threatens its life.
They breed year-round, females lay eggs several times with an interval between clutches of three to four months. In one clutch there can be up to ten eggs.
After two and a half months, offspring are born, but they immediately have to leave their parental home and look for a place to live. Otherwise, the basilisk predator can safely eat its child.
Basilisks have many enemies in the water on land and in the air. And if they can notice and hide somewhere in the thickets, then lizards suffer the most from some mammals that are nocturnal.
Basilisk lizard features
Basilisks are the only ones in the world that can run on water. They do this when danger threatens, they run as fast as they can, on their hind limbs, and do not even think about drowning.
I wonder how they do it? The answer is simple, it's all about paws. First of all, their fingers, they are so long that when immersed in water, they capture an air bubble with them, the leg does not sink.
Then between them there are small membranes that help to repel water well. And of course the speed of movement, because with fear, it reaches ten to twelve kilometers per hour. So, run through on water basilisk maybe half a mile. Then, pretty tired, he dives under the water and does not emerge for half an hour!
Basilisk at home
The main thing you need to know when buying a lizard is to make it a home. An individual caught by poachers and brought in later has very little chance of survival. When catching and transporting, she suffered a lot of stress and as a result, all illnesses in the animal are exacerbated.
The terrarium should be voluminous and high, its optimal size for one individual is two hundred liters. A lot of greenery should be planted in the basilisk's new home, they will really like a ficus tree or dracaena.
Do not forget about dry tree branches, snags and stumps, on which the lizard will warm its body under the lamp. It would be nice to install a pool, you can use a smaller aquarium.
It is already known that basilisks are shy, so the walls of the terrarium should be visible to the lizard. Use paper, pasting them on the outside, or tint the glass with something.
Otherwise, following its instincts, frightened, the lizard will rush to run and then it will definitely break on the glass wall, since it is not visible to the animal.
It is very important that basilisks live in pairs, but in no case should you settle two males. They will fight each other until there is only one left.
Basilisk feeding
The basilisk lizard is a predatory animal, so ninety percent of its diet should consist of meat, the rest is plant food. Animals are very fond of newborn rats, mice and lizards.
They can also throw pieces of raw fish into the pool or aquarium. Various midges and insects, cockroaches and locusts, grasshoppers and worms will be to their liking.
Small lizards are fed several times a day and only live food, always sprinkled with a nutritional supplement for reptiles. And already an adult is fed four times a week, adding plant foods to the diet.
The terrarium should be heated with heating lamps, they are placed on the reverse side so that the animal does not get burned. Only one half of the dwelling needs to be made warm, the second ten degrees cooler. It is necessary to place two thermometers in the house to the lizard for constant monitoring of the temperature regime.
Purchase a reptile UV lamp to monitor the daylight hours of the lizard, which should last at least twelve hours.
This will significantly improve the absorption of calcium by the body, the animal will receive the right amount of vitamin D, and metabolism will normalize. Observing all the rules of keeping, the animal has every chance to live hand in hand with you for ten years.