Some lizards have an extraordinary ability that allows them to sprint across the surface of water without sinking. This remarkable feat is made possible by a combination of speed, balance, and specialized body mechanics. Their light weight and rapid foot movement create enough upward force to keep them above the water’s surface, almost as if they were gliding.
When these creatures run, their feet strike the water at high speed, creating tiny air pockets beneath them. This quick motion prevents the surface from breaking completely, giving them just enough support to take the next step. The faster they move, the longer they can stay above the surface before gravity eventually pulls them down.
Their bodies are perfectly adapted for this unique form of movement. Long toes with fringed scales help increase the surface area, allowing them to slap the water with more impact and maintain stability. Their muscular legs provide the strength needed to propel themselves forward in a series of rapid, spring-like motions.
This ability is not just for show—it serves a vital purpose in survival. Running across water helps them escape predators quickly, giving them a significant advantage in the wild. It also allows them to move efficiently between areas divided by streams, ponds, or flooded terrain.
These agile runners are often found in warm, humid environments where shallow water bodies are common. They prefer habitats that provide both land for basking and water for quick getaways. Their behavior demonstrates how perfectly evolution can shape creatures to thrive in their surroundings.
Lizards that Run on Water
Common Basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus)
Found in: Central and South America, from Costa Rica to Colombia.
The most famous water-running lizard. It can sprint on its hind legs across water surfaces for significant distances. Juveniles are the most adept, using a combination of speed, fringed toes that create air pockets, and slapping motions to stay atop the water.
Plumed Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)
Found in: Central America, from Honduras to Panama.
Also known as the Green Basilisk, this stunning lizard is easily identified by the bright green color and distinctive crests on its head, back, and tail. Like its common cousin, it is an excellent bipedal runner on both land and water.
Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus)
Found in: Central America and introduced to Florida, USA.
This highly adaptable species is a proficient water-runner. Its ability to traverse water bodies has aided its spread in Florida, where it is now a common sight along canals and ditches.
Striped Basilisk (Basiliscus galeritus)
Found in: Western Colombia and Ecuador.
The least known of the four basilisk species, it shares the same anatomical adaptations—long toes and powerful hind legs—that allow it to run bipedally across rivers and streams to escape predators.
Sailfin Lizard (Hydrosaurus spp.)
Found in: Southeast Asia (Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea).
While not as specialized as basilisks for sustained water-running, these large, semi-aquatic lizards are powerful swimmers and can run on their hind legs for short distances across the water’s surface, especially when young and lighter.
Water Anole (Anolis aquaticus)
Found in: Streams and rivers on the Pacific slopes of Costa Rica and Panama.
This anole exhibits a unique water-escaping behavior. When threatened, it will dive into the water and can run bipedally across the surface for short bursts before submerging and hiding under rocks.
Chinese Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus)
Found in: Mainland Southeast Asia and Southern China.
Although they are primarily climbers, Chinese Water Dragons are strong swimmers and, when startled, can drop from branches into the water and use their powerful hind legs to run bipedally across the surface for a short distance before swimming.
Philippine Sailfin Lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus)
Found in: The Philippines.
A specific species of sailfin lizard, it is often found in forested streams. Juveniles and lighter adults can use a rapid, bipedal gait to escape across the water, resembling the locomotion of basilisks.
Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor)
Found in: South and Southeast Asia.
This adaptable lizard is primarily arboreal and terrestrial, but observations have shown that when pursued to the water’s edge, it can resort to a brief, bipedal dash across the surface to reach safety.
Soa-soa Water Lizard (Hydrosaurus amboinensis)
Found in: New Guinea and surrounding islands.
Another large sailfin lizard species, it shares the semi-aquatic habits of its genus. It is an excellent swimmer and can execute short bursts of bipedal running on the water, a trait more common in younger individuals.
Malaysian Sailfin Lizard (Hydrosaurus weberi)
Found in: The Molucca and Halmahera islands of Indonesia.
This species of sailfin lizard is heavily reliant on its riparian habitat. While adults are powerful swimmers, juveniles frequently use bipedal water-running as their primary escape tactic from predators, skimming across the surface to reach overhanging vegetation.
Peters’s Rock Agama (Agama picticauda)
Found in: West and Central Africa.
Primarily a rock-dwelling species, this agile agama is often found near water bodies. When threatened, it has been documented diving into the water and using a rapid, bipedal scramble to cross short stretches of water to reach other rocks or the safety of the bank.
Green Water Anole (Anolis biporcatus)
Found in: Central America and northwestern South America.
A larger relative of the Water Anole, this species also exhibits escape behavior across water. It can run bipedally for several meters on the surface before its momentum subsides and it continues its escape by swimming.
Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus)
Found in: Sub-Saharan Africa and along the Nile River.
While this large monitor lizard is too heavy for sustained surface running, young individuals are light enough to use a bipedal, bounding gait across the water for a few strides. This is typically a brief, startling burst of speed used when fleeing into the water.
Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)
Found in: South and Southeast Asia.
Similar to its Nile cousin, the young of the Asian Water Monitor can execute a short, powerful dash on their hind legs across the water’s surface. This behavior is a transient phase, as they quickly grow too large and heavy to be supported by surface tension.