The green basilisk, along with other members of the same genus, has earned the nickname ‘Jesus Christ lizard’, thanks to its extraordinary ability to run on water. This feat is accomplished with the help of their long toes on the rear feet with fringes of skin that unfurl in the water, increasing the surface area.
This fascinating evolutionary trait allows individuals to easily escape terrestrial predators. The maximum distance covered depends on the lizard’s overall size and weight, with juveniles usually running larger distances than older individuals. Juveniles can run 10 to 20 m, adults up to 4.5 m.
The photograph was captured at Basel Zoo.