{{Short description|Species of lizard}} {{Speciesbox | name = Western basilisk | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref =<ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Ibáñez, R. |author2=Jaramillo, C. |author3=Arredondo, J.C. |author4=Cisneros-Heredia, D.F. |date=2019 |title=''Basiliscus galeritus'' |volume=2019 |article-number=e.T203045A151731207 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T203045A151731207.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref> | image = Basiliscus basiliscus.jpg | image_caption = The head of a western basilisk. | genus = Basiliscus | species = galeritus | authority = A.M.C. Duméril & A.H.A. Duméril, 1851 }}

The '''western basilisk''' ('''''Basiliscus galeritus''''') is a large species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is endemic to northwestern South America.

==Etymology== The specific name, ''galeritus'', which is Latin, means "wearing a hood", referring to the head crest.<ref>"''Basiliscus galeritus'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.</ref>

==Habitat and geographic range== ''B. galeritus'' inhabits forests at altitudes of {{convert|0|-|1600|m|abbr=on}} in western Colombia and western Ecuador in South America.<ref name=Mindo>Bustamante-Enríquez LM, Arteaga AF (2012). [http://www.tropicalherping.com/articles/inventories/mindo/basiliscus-galeritus.html Western Basilisk (''Basiliscus galeritus'')]. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Mindo. Version 2012.a</ref> Earlier reports of its occurrence in Central America are mistaken and actually refer to young of the closely related common basilisk.<ref>Savage JM (2002). ''The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Herpetofauna between Two Continents, between Two Seas''. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. 954 pp. {{ISBN|0-226-73537-0}}. p. 429.</ref><ref>Köhler G (2000). ''Reptilien und Amphibien Mittelamerikas, Band 1: Krokodile, Schildkröten, Echsen'' [Central American Reptiles and Amphibians, Volume 1: Crocodiles, Turtles, Lizards]. Offenbach, Germany: Herpeton. 158 pp. {{ISBN|3-9806214-0-5}}. p. 72. (in German).</ref>

==Conservation status== The western basilisk is common and not threatened.<ref name=Mindo/>

==Description== Males of ''B. galeritus'' reach a total length (including tail) up to about {{convert|77.5|cm|abbr=on}}, while females reach about {{convert|63.5|cm|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Mindo/> 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 young individuals of the common basilisk. It may have a narrow white stripe or a row of white dots on each side. It has no back flap. The adult males bear a round head flap/crest.

==Invasive species== The western basilisk has been introduced to Gorgona Island, Colombia. This species is not native to the island, and thus, is endangering native species that reside on the island, such as the endemic blue anole (''Anolis gorgonae'').

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *Boulenger GA (1885). ''Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. Iguanidæ ...'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I-XXIV. (''Basiliscus galeritus'', pp.&nbsp;110–111). *Duméril AMC, Duméril AHA (1851). ''Catalogue méthodique de la collection des reptiles du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris'' [''Systematic Catalogue of the Collection of Reptiles of the Museum of Natural History of Paris'']. Paris: Gide et Baudry / Roret. 224 pp. (''Basiliscus galeritus'', new species, p.&nbsp;61). (in French).

==External links== {{Commons category|Basiliscus galeritus}} *[https://www.flickr.com/photos/26175334@N02/2477528701/sizes/l/ ''Basiliscus galeritus'' photograph]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2705831}}

Category:Basiliscus Category:Reptiles of Colombia Category:Reptiles of Ecuador Category:Reptiles described in 1851 Category:Taxa named by André Marie Constant Duméril Category:Taxa named by Auguste Duméril

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