Reptiles are very close to birds, in fact some reptiles are more closely related to birds than other lizards, like the crocodiles, which are closer relatives to chickens than iguanas.
One very interesting species is
Basiliscus Vittatus or the brown basilisk. in some parts of the world this is known as the
"Jesus Christ lizard" because of its ability to run on water for relatively long periods of time when startled. This species commonly lives in the tropical or sub tropical parts of Latin America. It lives in wet, moist areas, and dry forests.
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| http://www.scenicreflections.com/files/Brown_Basilisk_Wallpaper_oexc9.jpg |
These lizards can either hop or run very swiftly, making them very difficult to study, so very little is known about them. They do know however that they are not endangered, they are actually very abundant in some places like Guatemala, and are not a protected species. Brown basilisks are very arboreal, and spend a lot of time in trees and in the under brush.
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| http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Brown-basilisk-detail.jpg/250px-Brown-basilisk-detail.jpg |
Brown Basilisks will eat both insects and fallen berries. Reproduction is sexual, and fertilization is internal. The female will lay 3-12 eggs which hatch in between 55-65 days. The parents give no parental care. Sexual maturity is reached between 3-12 months of age. Most Brown Basilisks live about 6 years (captivity).
