Nature Field Guide
Brown Basilisk
- Spanish name
- Basilisco café
- Scientific name
- Basiliscus vittatus
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Pico and Tati invite you to learn about the brown basilisk. Make a three-column comparison of the common, green and brown basilisk using verified photographs.
Species overview
About the Brown Basilisk
This brown or olive basilisk often has pale stripes along its sides. It differs from the green basilisk and should not be identified from the shared basilisk nickname alone.
Identification
Key Features of the Brown Basilisk
Brown or olive body with pale side stripes.
Long tail and slender limbs.
Adult males can have a head crest without the green basilisk’s tall body sails.
Habitat & range
Lowland forest edges, streamside vegetation and disturbed wooded habitats, including Caribbean areas.
Local observations
Recorded in Costa Rica. This profile describes suitable habitat, not a confirmed Tamarindo sighting or a guaranteed viewing location.
When to observe
Daytime in suitable lowland habitat.
Conservation & care
Watch wildlife with an adult from a safe path. Do not touch, feed, capture or move reptiles, and keep pets away. Leave eggs, shelters and vegetation undisturbed.
Observation activity
Make a three-column comparison of the common, green and brown basilisk using verified photographs.