Brown Basilisk
Brown BasiliskBrown BasiliskBrown BasiliskBrown Basilisk

Brown Basilisk

Basiliscus vittatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
60–70% · Likely
overall probability at Tortuguero National Park
235 Verified records at Tortuguero National Park
July Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The brown basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus), also commonly referred to as the striped basilisk, is a species of basilisk lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Mexico, Central America and adjacent northwestern Colombia, and has been introduced into the U.S. state of Florida as an invasive species. The brown basilisk has large hind feet with narrow flaps of skin on the distal edge of each toe. The fact that it moves quickly across water gives it the appearance of "walking on water". Wikipedia →

60–70% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Basilisk sighting in Tortuguero National Park, based on 235 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Tortuguero National Park

Basiisk Verde

Basiisk Verde

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus plumifrons

70–80% · Very likely
Helmeted Iguana
LC

Helmeted Iguana

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Corytophanes cristatus

20–30% · Possible

📅 Monthly Probability

60–70
Jan
60–70
Feb
60–70
Mar
50–60
Apr
50–60
May
60–70
Jun
70–80
Jul
50–60
Aug
60–70
Sep
60–70
Oct
60–70
Nov
50–60
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
60–70%
2 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
60–70%
3 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
50–60%
4 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
50–60%
5 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
40–50%
6 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
40–50%
7 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
40–50%
8 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
40–50%
9 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
40–50%
10 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
30–40%
11 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
30–40%
12 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
13 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
20–30%
14 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
15 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
20–30%
16 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
20–30%
17 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
18 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
19 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
20 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
21 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
22 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
23 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Brown Basilisk in Tortuguero National Park?

About 63% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Basilisk sighting in Tortuguero National Park, based on 235 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Brown Basilisk in Tortuguero National Park?

July has the highest sighting rate for Brown Basilisk in Tortuguero National Park in our monthly data.

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