The Western basilisk, or red-headed basilisk (Basiliscus galeritus), is a large species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of corytophanid

Corytophanidae

Corytophanidae is a family of lizards also called casque head lizards or helmeted lizards. They typically have well-developed head crests in the shape of a casque. This crest is a sexually dimorphic characteristic in males of Basiliscus, but is present in both sexes of Corytophanes and Laemanctus...

 lizard

Lizard

Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...

.

Geographic range

It inhabits western Colombia

Colombia

Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...

 and Ecuador

Ecuador

Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...

 up through Central America

Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

.

Description

Its body color is olive-green with a reddish brown underbelly. The throat is white to yellow. On the back it has a small crest similar to that of juvenile individuals of the common iguana. It has narrow white stripes on the sides. It has no back flap. The adult males bear a round head flap/crest.

Invasive species

The red-headed basilisk can be found in Gorgona Island National Park of Colombia. This species is not native to the park, and thus, is endangering native species that reside within this park, such as the Blue Anole

Blue anole

The blue anole is a small, highly threatened species of polychrotid lizard.-Geographic range:It is found only on the island of Gorgona, in Colombia.-Description:...

 (Anolis gorgonae), a species that is endemic to the Gorgona Island.

External links

• Basiliscus galeritus photograph