Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic

Common Basilisk

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Common Basilisk in Barranquilla?

Possible. About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Basilisk sighting in Barranquilla on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 5th most-seen of the 6 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Common Basilisk in Barranquilla?

July and November–December. In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Basilisk in Barranquilla on a given day, against under 5% in January–April, June and August–September, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Common Basilisk?

Between 8 and 11 am. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Basilisk sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Barranquilla the best place to see a Common Basilisk?

2nd of 5. Of the 5 cities where we can rate Common Basilisk sightings, Barranquilla ranks 2nd at about 20%. The best odds are in Panama City (Panama, about 30%).

Q: Where does the Common Basilisk sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Common Basilisk is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Barranquilla (7 verified sightings), 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.

Basiliscus basiliscus

Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassSquamata
FamilyCorytophanidae (Helmeted Lizards)
GenusBasiliscus (Basilisks)
SpeciesBasiliscus basiliscus (Common Basilisk)

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

at Barranquilla

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

7 Verified sightings at Barranquilla

2,624 In all 20 parks From 2019 to 2026

December Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Challenge Costa Rica Classics Central AmericaMedium

About the Common Basilisk

The common basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus) is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to Central America and South America, where it is found near rivers and streams in rainforests. It is also known as the Jesus Christ lizard, Jesus lizard, South American Jesus lizard, or lagarto de Jesus Cristo for its ability to run on the surface of water.

The common basilisk can be distinguished from similar species within its range by its large size and the high fin-like crest along its back. Most common basilisks are brown and cream in color. Males also have high crests on the head and tail. Both genders are brown to olive, and have a white, cream, or yellow stripe on the upper lip and a second stripe along either side of the body; these stripes have higher contrast in juveniles and fade as the lizards age.

Hatchlings weigh a mere 2 grams (0.071 oz) and are 38 to 43 mm (1.5 to 1.7 in) long. Adults can grow to a total length (including tail) of 76 cm (2.5 feet). Females are generally 135 to 194 g (4.8 to 6.8 oz), and weigh half as much as males. The tail comprises 70 to 75% of the total length: for example, a 70-cm-long (27.5-inch-long) common... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Known range (GARD, Roll et al. 2017 & Caetano et al. 2022)Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 11 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~80%
2	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~80%
3	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~70%
4	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~60%
5	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~60%
6	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
7	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~50%
8	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~50%
9	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
10	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
11	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~40%
12	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	~40%
13	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
14	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
15	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
16	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
17	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
18	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
19	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
20	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Panama City	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
2	Barranquilla	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
3	San José	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
4	Cali	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
5	Medellín	🇨🇴 Colombia	~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Warsaw Zoo	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
2	Taronga Zoo	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
3	Kharkiv Zoo	🇺🇦 Ukraine	In captivity
4	Grodno Zoo	🇧🇾 Belarus	In captivity
5	Bergen Aquarium	🇳🇴 Norway	In captivity
6	Aquarium River of Zaragoza	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
7	Kharkiv Dolphinarium	🇺🇦 Ukraine	In captivity
8	herpetarium warszawskiego ZOO	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
9	akwarium warszawskiego ZOO	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
10	hipopotamiarnia i akwarium morskie warszawskiego ZOO	🇵🇱 Poland	In captivity
11	Tarpon Springs Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity

Show all 11 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Barranquilla

No species of the same family or order lives in Barranquilla, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.

Iguana iguana

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Lepidodactylus lugubris

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Hemidactylus frenatus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Gonatodes albogularis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Cnemidophorus gaigei

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Basilisk in Barranquilla?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Basilisk sighting in Barranquilla on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 5th most-seen of the 6 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Common Basilisk in Barranquilla?

July and November–December

In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Basilisk in Barranquilla on a given day, against under 5% in January–April, June and August–September, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Common Basilisk?

Between 8 and 11 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Basilisk sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Barranquilla the best place to see a Common Basilisk?

2nd of 5

Of the 5 cities where we can rate Common Basilisk sightings, Barranquilla ranks 2nd at about 20%. The best odds are in Panama City (Panama, about 30%).

Where does the Common Basilisk sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Common Basilisk is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Barranquilla (7 verified sightings), 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.

← Back to Barranquilla