Basilisks

 Basilisks are common lizards in Costa Rica and we were able to see all three of the regional subspecies, starting with the Green Basilisk. Mythology-fans and D+D players will be disappointed to hear that these basilisks are unable to turn people to stone with their gaze, but do retain a unique defensive ability all the same. Frequently called "the Jesus Christ lizard" by the locals, their feet have evolved in such a way that they can run on their hind legs across open water for significant distances. Being good ecotourists, we did not disturb the animals, so we haven't seen this reaction firsthand.

 The Striped Basilisk is a smaller animal and quite good at blending into its surrounds on the Caribbean side of the country. The picture below spoils this ability somewhat by being so zoomed, but on that spot at the end of our hike it took a moment to pick it out from a pile of driftwood even at a short distance.

 As we have stated many times over by now, Costa Rica LOVES variations of wildlife, and the Brown Basilisk (below) is a Pacific-only variation of the Striped Basilisk. We found this animal when we were out looking for squirrel monkeys and it was perhaps too cold and lazy to want to move, so we were able to get quite a nice portrait of it.