The mystery of the basilisk lizard "Jesus Lizard" has been solved

The basilisk lizard - also known as a Jesus lizard - has a seemingly miraculous ability to scurry across liquid, apparently at odds with the usual laws of physics.

Apart from a few types of spider and insect - such as pond skaters that are light enough to avoid piercing the surface tension of the water - the lizard (Basiliscus plumifrons) is the only creature that can perform this mystifying trick.

Harvard University's Dr Tonia Hsieh told the BBC World Service that experiments showed the lizard to be producing massive sideways force to stay upright.

<snip>


<snip>
Animals that run on land with two legs, such as birds and humans, have little force directed out towards the sides. The basilisk lizard is very different.

"We were wondering why this is actually happening," Dr Hsieh added.

"Our guess on this is that it appears to help maintain stability... as they're running across water; they're constantly tripping.

"It's a matter of catching themselves and keeping themselves upright before they actually fall over."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4033725.stm

Interesting.

..treading water in a bizzaro world kind of way.

i think i even have an album. hafta to go look.