Frontal lobe basilisk
| Frontal lobe basilisk | ||||||||||||
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Male frontal lobe basilisk ( Basiliscus plumifrons ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Basiliscus plumifrons | ||||||||||||
| Cope , 1876 |
The frontal lobe basilisk ( Basiliscus plumifrons ), also known as the plume basilisk , is a large, Central American type of basilisk . He belongs to the subordination of the iguanas .
description
The frontal lobe basilisk reaches a length of around 80 cm, of which the length of the tail is 50 to 55 cm, two thirds of the total length. It is named after the frontal lobes (which are more pronounced in the males and have the shape of a head sail) on the head and back of the head of the basilisk. The body is slim overall, but the legs are strong. The color of the scales varies from dark green to emerald green to blue-green. The scales become lighter towards the belly. The back is marked by yellowish to bluish speckles. The impressive ridges of skin on the back, which can reach a height of 5 cm, continue to the base of the tail. These skin ridges are somewhat less pronounced in the female. The animals can live up to 13 years in captivity with good care. In freedom, however, they die much earlier.
distribution
The frontal lobed basilisk is at home in the rainforests and wetlands of Central America. The species is particularly common in Honduras , Costa Rica and Panama . Frontal lobe basilisks mainly live on trees near water. They are very good swimmers and divers. With their wide toes, they are able to walk over water for a short time; this gave the lizard the name Jesus lizard .
food
Insects , snails , frogs , small lizards and fish are part of the diet of the frontal lobe basilisk. In addition, fruits and flowers are also consumed.
Reproduction
The mating season is not tied to any fixed season. After a gestation of 40–45 days, the female lays up to 15 eggs, from which the young hatch after an average of 60–75 days. The time of hatching is strongly dependent on the incubation temperature . The young lizards have a hatching length of around 12 cm and a weight of 2.5 grams. The first moult occurs after 5 to 6 weeks. Sexual maturity occurs in the middle of the second year of life.
literature
- Ingo Kober: The frontal lobe basilisk. Basiliscus plumifrons. Natur und Tier - Verlag, Münster 2008, ISBN 978-3-9372-8502-3 .
Individual evidence
Web links
- Everything about basiliscus plumifrons
- More photos of the frontal lobe basilisk
- Basiliscus plumifrons in The Reptile Database
- Basiliscus plumifrons inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Listed by: Wilson, LD, Townsend, JH & Lamar, W., 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2014.