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Jesus Christ Lizard


Jesus Christ Lizard
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6167] (21074)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-07
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon Powershot S1-IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Costa Rica
Theme(s): Lizards - Lagartos - Lézards, Reptiles - Lizards, Chuckwallas, Agamas & Tegus 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-05-12 3:25
Viewed: 17165
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Emerald Double-crested Basilisk
aka "Jesus Christ" Lizard
Basiliscus plumifrons

The Basilisk lizard is known as the "Jesus lizard" because it can run on water.

Physical Appearance: Green turquoise, or brown coloring. Basilisks have teeth that are fused to the inner sides of their jaws. These reptiles have a long, whip-like tail, eyelids, four sprawling legs, and a body covered with overlapping scales. The body is laterally compressed (a cross-section of the body is tall and thin). The outer edges of the toes have long, fringe-like scales that help it walk on water. A large, flat, lobed crest adorns the back of the basilisk's head. Male basilisks reach the greatest size (in comparsion to the females) and has a crest on the occiput and a large dorsal crest covering the back. This crest is supported by elongations of the neural spines. Basilisks range from 2 to 2.5 feet (0.6 - 0.8 m) long. They can run up to seven miles per hour. Basilisks are excellent climbers, swimmers, and jumpers. When on the ground, they are able to run at great speed but at a slower rate when they revert to a quadrupedal gait.

Range: Basilisks can be found throughout Central America from the South of Mexico to Panama.

Habitat: Their habitats can vary from shores of rivers and lakes to trees. Humid, tropical areas like rainforests .

Feeding: Basilisks are omnivores. They usually eat grasshoppers and crickets, spiders, worms, fruit, flowers, small fish, baby birds, and small snakes. Like other lizards, the basilisk can store fat in its tail.

Predators: Large snakes and some large birds.

Behavior: Males are territorial! Head bobbing as threat; gesture and courtship behavior, easily frightened.

Breeding: A female will dig a shallow trench in moist soil in which she will lay 18-20 eggs. After covering the eggs with soil, there is no more parental care. When the eggs hatch (after an incubation period of about 8 to 10 weeks), the young live in trees and eat insects that they catch themselves.
Up to 4-5 clutches per season. Average lifespan is about seven years.

Source
TAZ, dew77, coasties, liquidsunshine, IRCrockett, hummingbird24, yerevantsi, biawak, Chaga, firelord, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To vanderschelden: Wildlifemanyee 2 06-10 11:43
To biawak: Backgroundmanyee 1 05-17 01:09
To sandpiper2: Questionmanyee 3 05-14 21:54
To sandpiper2: I agree...manyee 1 05-13 02:35
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-05-12 3:39]

Belle et intéressante composition photographique bien réalisée pour ce superbe lézard vert. Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
Well Done !!!

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-05-12 4:27]

Hello Manyee!
Wonderful shot.Clear details,harmonious colors,DOF,BG and composition are perfect.
TFS...:-)

Awesome Manyee. I love his colours. He looks like he is just cruisin'. Nice work. Crisp, clear and very sharp. Thanks

Wonderful shot Manyee,
Crystal clear details, very sharp. Great colours, the BG is awesome. Well composed.
Walking on water is no big deal....but if this lizard can turn the water into wine, then I'll have 4 please!!!
Thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-05-12 15:11]

Wow, Manyee! What a lovely little chap. :) Razorsharp details, stunning colors, well done on the composition, great and oof BG. Your best picture so far, imho. :)

Regards,
Pieter

They're a nice lizard aren't they. Obviously you have modified the background, though I think you have gone in too harsh with the blur. Secondly you were not carefull enough around the outline of the lizards back, so you can see where its been altered. Not a bad attempt, but you have to spend time and practice. Also you can make some adjustment to blend the edge of the polygon when you decide the blur level to use.

  • Great 
  • twin Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 252 W: 17 N: 494] (3255)
  • [2005-05-15 1:57]

it is a super shot Manyee..
wonderful colors... so attractive pic..
congratulations ...

What a wonderful and truly colorful lizard he is, Manyee. Interesting note with this posting as well.
Good composition, detail, color, and POV.
Thank you.

Very nice shot of a male! Nice sharp focus and DOF. The bokeh is nice but is it real or added via Lens Blur?

Very beautiful shot, Manyee!
And thank you for your interesting note.

Garo

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 373 W: 14 N: 538] (2881)
  • [2006-04-29 0:47]

Wow! Wonderful shot Manyee! What nice colours!Sharp details well contrasted to the background!
Cheers!
Zeca

This is a beauty, Manyee!!! (Hopefully I'll be there again in October...) great shot, nice detail and colors, and perfect DOF indeed. Cheers, Luís.

Hello Manyee!
I really have to say that the title is really good! Thanks to it I decided to pay more attention on this photo. And it was a very good idea - now I know why you decided to entitle this presentation like this :>
Very informative note my Friend! I also like colouration, DOF, POV and details of this picture. Well done!
Best withes and TFS,
Radomir

Hi Manyee,
Is it photographed in an animal park or is it what we call here at wildlife shot. I do not think it is mentioned...
Well done
TFS
Annick

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