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Basiisk Verde
Basiliscus plumifrons
Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyCorytophanidae (Helmeted Lizards)
- GenusBasiliscus (Basilisks)
- SpeciesBasiliscus plumifrons (Basiisk Verde)
In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%
361 Verified sightings at Arenal Volcano National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,482 In all 11 parks
May Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the Basiisk Verde
The plumed basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons), also called the green basilisk, double crested basilisk, or Jesus Christ lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Central America.
The plumed basilisk's native range spans southern Mexico and northern Colombia. B. plumifrons inhabits hot, humid rainforests that contain streams, rivers or other water bodies. The physical appearance of the plumed basilisk is striking: it sports a bright green color along its body with black and white streaks along its neck and back. Their physical appearance differs by sex, as they are sexually dimorphic; males have a distinct crest on the back and tail and large plumes on top of their heads, while females typically only have a singular, much smaller, crest on their head.
The green crested or plumed lizard is unique in its ability to run across water with speed and the method it employs to do this. It displays the behaviour as a threat response, when fleeing predators. High speed is maintained in order to prevent sinking.
This lizard is extraordinarily territorial and is known for its aggressive behaviour to the extent that multiple male lizards cannot be maintained within the same enclosure. However, they do exist in the wild in large groups that allow for multiple males. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Basiisk Verde in Arenal Volcano National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tortuguero National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 2 | Cahuita National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | Braulio Carrillo National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 4 | Arenal Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 5 | Tenorio Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 6 | Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 7 | Bastimentos Island National Marine Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 8 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 9 | Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 10 | Manuel Antonio National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 11 | Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
Closest Relatives at Arenal Volcano National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Basiisk Verde in Arenal Volcano National Park?
Likely
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Basiisk Verde sighting in Arenal Volcano National Park on a given day, based on 361 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 2nd most-seen of the 64 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Basiisk Verde in Arenal Volcano National Park?
May
In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Basiisk Verde in Arenal Volcano National Park on a given day, against about 30% in December, the lowest month.
What time of day is best to see a Basiisk Verde?
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Basiisk Verde sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Arenal Volcano National Park the best place to see a Basiisk Verde?
4th of 11
Of the 11 parks where we can rate Basiisk Verde sightings, Arenal Volcano National Park ranks 4th at about 50%. The best odds are in Tortuguero National Park (Costa Rica, about 80%), Cahuita National Park (Costa Rica, about 60%) and Braulio Carrillo National Park (Costa Rica, about 50%). All parks ranked.
Where does the Basiisk Verde sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Basiisk Verde is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Arenal Volcano National Park (361 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
