20 Of The World's Most Cutest And Largest Lizard Species

Lizards are the most commonly seen reptiles in backyards. They are most closely related to snakes. Actually, some lizards, called sheltopusiks, look like snakes because they have no legs. Most of lizards today resemble the ancient reptiles of the dinosaur era. Their ancestors appeared on Earth over 200 million years ago. There are numerous species of lizards spread all over the world.

Emerald Basilisk Lizard (Jesus Christ Lizard): This beautiful lizard (Basiliscus plumifrons), also called the green basilisk, double crested basilisk, or Jesus Christ lizard. It is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Central America. The plumed basilisk's native range spans southern Mexico and northern Colombia. B. plumifrons inhabits hot, humid rainforests that contain streams, rivers or other water bodies. The physical appearance of the plumed basilisk is striking: it sports a bright green color along its body with black and white streaks along its neck and back. Their physical appearance differs by sex, as they are sexually dimorphic; males have a distinct crest on the back and tail and large plumes on top of their heads, while females typically only have a singular, much smaller, crest on their head. This green lizard is unique in its ability to run across water with speed and the method it employs to do this. It displays the behaviour as a threat response, when fleeing predators. High speed is maintained in order to prevent sinking.