Jesus Christ Lizard
Wildlife enthusiasts on Costa Rica tours often hope to glimpse sea turtles, but the country is also home to a bright green lizard that can run across the surface of water at the rate of five feet per second.
The Jesus Christ lizard runs as a bi-ped across water and, as a result, this lizard has derived its name from the bible. However, there are no holy spirits moving this two-foot-long reptile. The long toes on its back feel have broad fringes of skin that unfurl in the water, increasing surface area. It can run at 1.5m (4.8 ft) per second for about 4.5m (14.75 ft) on water. It then sinks and swims.
How do they do it? In three simple steps. The slap, the stroke, and the recovery. The lizard slaps its foot down against the water, strokes his feet back, and recovers by moving its foot back up and out of the water. This is how they return to the starting position. Their swimming skills are also excellent; adult lizards can remain underwater for up to 30 seconds.
This flight across water is usually out of fear of a predator. When threatened, a basilisk lizard can drop out of a tree and start sprinting.
Story By Diana Wilson
