close up shot of a JESUS CHRIST LIZARD...and a close relative, the helmeted basilisk.....

[Gato Moteado]

...the green basilisk is a female and they are called jesus christ lizards because they can run across the surface of water....the males have much larger crests....the helmeted basilisk or helmeted iguana (as they are also known) cannot run on top of water:

[Walleye]

1. Whoa! Beautiful shots! that critter in the bottom one could give you nightmares

[Gato Moteado]

8. thank you.

the helmeted iguanas are pretty chill...really cool lizards:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_helmeted_iguana

[SpamWyzer]

2. In Costa Rica

we know the helmeted iguana as perro zompopa because they love to eat leaf-cutter ants.They also are biters. I saw a lovely and large green basilisk run across the road in front of my car as I crossed our small local bridge. Next day I saw a tortuga lagarto, or S. American alligator snapping turtle on the road. Lovely animals.

[Gato Moteado]

3. tuanis! what part of CR are you in?

i always wondered why we called them that here!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. More excellent photos, my dear Gato!

We love seeing your work.

I was thinking that these were called JESUS CHRIST LIZARD because that's what people would say when they saw them!

For instance: "Jesus Christ, wouldya look at this monster lizard!"



Anyway, great work, dear Gato!

[Gato Moteado]

10. thanks, peg!

i'm getting there slowly....some day i might be a photographer!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. My dear Gato! If you're not a photographer NOW, then there's no hope for any of us!

You are absolutely a photographer, and a damn fine one too!

[Gato Moteado]

13. you're too kind....

....i get a lucky shot now and then

[AndyS]

5. Hmmm, I thought the name came from people saying

Jesus Christ! Did you see THAT??

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. GMTA! nt

[Gato Moteado]

11. i say that about everything that runs by!

[mike_c]

6. these are beautiful!

[Gato Moteado]

9. thanks man....

....i need to get more shots of iguanids like these