Geographic range: Nearctic, Neotropical: B. vittatus can be found only in Latin America from Central Mexico southward through Central America down to northern Colombia. It has also been introduced to Florida.

Physical characteristics: Males, who are bigger than females reach over 60 cm in length. Females are considerably smaller. The most prominent feature of an adult male is a large crest running from back of the head to the neck. Second crest runs down the back from above the shoulders to the hind legs. Although present also in females, both crests are much less prominent. Legs and tail are long and slim. Overall color of the body is brown with visible yellow stripes running from the eye down the flank to the tail. On the back, darker and and lighter sets of bars are present.

Food habits: Main diet are insects, although feeding on fallen fruit was reported.

Reproduction: Sexual maturity can be reached in less than 1 year of age. Females lay a clutch of 3 - 12 eggs before the onset and during the beginning of the rainy season (May to August on N hemisphere). The young hatch in about 55 - 65 days.

Behavior: Basiliscus are alert, agile and fast lizards. They climb, run and swim very well.

Habitat: Tropical and subtropical wet, moist, and dry forests. Preferred habitat is dense vegetation along the margin of any body of water.

Biomes: tropical rainforest, tropical deciduous forest