What are the 'Jesus lizards' in Florida? Get to know the brown basilisk that walks on water

Is it a ghost, this tiny, terrifying cold-blooded figure that approaches, miraculously scampering the surface of Florida's lakes and rivers?

Take courage, Florida! Just as Saint Peter's terror that the messiah who walked on water was an apparition, so too must Floridans' fear turn to faith then action when confronted with the dreaded brown basilisk, a.k.a. "Jesus lizard," as it, too, unbelievably walks on water. And possibly in a pond near you.

Unlike Jesus, though, brown basilisk lizards — native to Central America — are ferocious predators. And scientists are worried about the lizard's spread into Florida and what that might mean for native species.

Brevard borders on what scientists call the "invasion front," the northern line of where the non-native Jesus lizards continue to take their leaps of faith north.

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"It’s almost like an army,” said Ken Gioeli, UF's extension agent for St. Lucie County. “The army of basilisks are moving forward. And the population is just going to expand.”

That's why researchers are asking Floridians to help track the spread of water-walking reptiles across the Sunshine State. Here is the lowdown on the lizard:

Are brown basilisks invasive to Florida?

Brown basilisk lizards are native to lowland habitats in coastal regions of central México south through Panama in Central America.

The lizard was first observed in Florida in 1963, thought to have been dumped in the wild as pet lizards often are in Florida. The basilisk had reached as far north as Sebastian Inlet by 2008. Now it's thought to be as far north as Gainesville, according to a map of non-native species maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey.

How big is a brown basilisk?

It can grow to three feet long.

Why is it called a Jesus lizard?

It's one of the only critters that can walk on water. But that can be explained by physics, not divine intervention.

Why can the Jesus lizard walk on water?

The basilisk stands on its hind legs and high tails it, briskly skimming the water's surface — thus the nickname, "Jesus lizard."

Basilisks can run in excess of 15 mph, and they use their rear legs and feet to “slap” and “stroke” the water, according to UF/IFAS. "The initial “slap” creates an upward force as the foot is plunged vertically into the water," IFAS says. "During the “stroke” the lizard is propelled forward as the foot is quickly swept back in the water."

Is the brown basilisk bad for Florida?

Biologists don't know yet.

They are urgently asking residents to report any basilisk sightings using an App called IveGot1. They hope to tap the data the public puts into that app to detect early where the reptile is spreading in Florida, in case its presence is harmful to humans and/or native fish and wildlife.

While not native to the state, it's unknown what the basilisk lizard's ecological and economic impacts are, but some research suggests they might increase spread of mosquito-borne illnesses.

Can Jesus lizards harm humans or pets?

Brown basilisks do not pose a direct threat to pets or people, UF says. The bite of a large brown basilisk is potentially painful, but unless the lizard is handled there is no threat. The lizard avoids people and is very fast moving when spooked.

But it is among several species of introduced lizards identified as the source of blood meals for the mosquito Culex nigripalpus in Florida, a known vector for West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus, both of which infect mammals and can be deadly to humans.

Are their other bad lizards in Florida?

Yes. More non-native reptile species have been introduced into Florida than any other region on Earth, according to the University Florida. The state has three times as many species of established, nonnative lizards as it does native species.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 'Jesus lizard' in Florida: What to know about brown basilisks