SeaWayBLOG

The Lizard that walks on water

source

Today I would like to introduce you a very very special little animal: the Basilisk. To understand why it is so awesome I'm going to call him with its common nickname: "The Jesus Lizard"! The basilisk infact have received this very promissory nickname thanks to its amazing ability to walk on water.. yes you've read correctly, this lizard is able to walk on the surface of the water just like Jesus Christ in one of the most famous biblical passage: Matthew 14:22-34. However, in this case, having nothing to do with miracles and holiness, it would have probably been more appropriate to call him the Remo Williams Lizard, also because, just like the 80's movie action hero, the basilisk is able to run on the surface rather than walk.

Basilisk is actually a genus that includes four species that all share this incredible ability:

Common basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus)
Red-headed basilisk, (Basiliscus galeritus) aka Western basilisk
Plumed basilisk, (Basiliscus plumifrons) aka Green basilisk or Double crested basilisk
Brown Basilisk, (Basiliscus vittatus) aka Striped basilisk

The following is a gallery of pictures gathered on Flickr (click on them to visit their page) of the four Basislisks. I think they're very nice, especially the Green Basilisk, don't you think?

The basilisk has mackled blue spots and a yellow iris, on average measures 70 to 75 mm (2.8 in - 3.0 in), and weighs about 80 grams (3.2 oz). Its growth is perpetual, fast when they are young and nonlinear for mature basilisks. Its long crest-like sails reinforced in three distinct points (head, back, and tail) confers the impression of creatures such as Dimetrodon and Spinosaurus. Its skin is shed in pieces. They are generally found in Latin America anywhere there is a body of water (usually from Central Mexico to Ecuador). Recently introduced to Florida, it has adapted to the colder winters by burrowing into the leaf litter for warmth. Current reports sight the basilisk as far north as Fort Pierce, on the state's East Coast, where small groups have crept up the North Fork of the Saint Lucie River.

But how these lizard are actually ablle to walk on the surface of the water having a weight greater than the water’s surface tension can support?

Not many animals are actually able to move on the surface of the water. Just a bunch of very specialized insects, like the Water Strider, are infact able to achieve this amazing feat, but they all are much lighter than the Basilisks and rely on surface tension to stay afloat, as you can read in this interesting Wikipedia entry about Animal locomotion on the surface layer of water.
The secret of the Jesus Lizard’s trick are instead its large hind feet, with flaps of skin between each toe similar to the webbed tootsies of a frog. These help support the basilisk, increasing its surface area and creating a tiny air pocket that stops it from sinking as long as it maintains its momentum. Running upright, often using only its back legs, the basilisk can run at a velocity of 1.5 meters (4.8 feet) per second for approximately 4.5 meters (14.75 feet) before sinking on all fours and swimming. They can also sustain themselves on all fours while "water-walking" to increase time above the surface by about 4.25 feet.

Having its habitat in the dark tropical forests and being so fast taking pictures of a Jesus Lizard walking on water it's not so easy:

However the best way to apreciate the Basilisk running on water is a video. Enjoy this wonderful National Geographic's documentary where we can admire Basilisk's feat in a gorgeous slow-motion:

[More]

The "Rain" Orchestra

Perpetuum Jazzile is a really really cool Slovenian choir that performs jazz and popular music. In this video you can see their live performance of the song "Africa" by rock band Toto. Why is it so cool? Look at how, at the beginning of the song, they manage to perfectly simulate a thunderstorm just using their hands!!! Really amazing....

[More]

Rolex Fastnet Race 2009

©Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Among the many regattas taking place every year one of my favourites is for sure the legendary Rolex Fastnet Race probably beacause the charm of the Fastnet rock and of his lighthouse is definetely amazing. Enjoy the pictures by Carlo Borlenghi of the 2009 edition which hast just ended in Plymouth.
To see other pictures and for any further info about the race, as usual with Rolex sailing events check REGATTANEWS.COM

©Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

©Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

[More]

Flight of the Cat-Monster!

©Carlo Borlenghi/Alinghi
AL5 with Matterhorn/Cervino on the background

On August 7th a really exceptional transport took place from Lake Geneva (Sui) to Genoa(Ita). AL5 the huge (90ft) catamaran recently built by Alinghi to defend the America's Cup in the 33rd edition of the oldest sport trophy was ready to finally reach the sea. Being built in Villeneuve on Lake Geneva this means that it should somehow cover 270km to reach the nearest port that's Genoa. Not just that, it also means that, like a new version of Hannibal's elephants it should find a way to pass over the Alps!
The amazing feat has been realized by lifting the monster with the biggest helicopter of the world the russian Mil Mi26 which than have flown the boat over the Great Saint Bernard Pass into Italy, after a "pit-stop" in Biella to refuel it continued on to Genoa where it landed at 14:30 outside the Yacht Club Italiano.

This amazing voyage has been photographed by Carlo Borlenghi from another smaller helicopter. These are his amazing shots:

©Carlo Borlenghi/Alinghi

[More]

Apologies and new layout

Picture by Byrne Reese

I've rarely used SeaWayBLOG posts to write direct messages to my readers. I prefer to use services like Twitter for this kind of things and leave the posts for what they are meant to be: articles. Sometimes, however, there are pretty important things I would like to say to all of you and this is one of these cases.

First of all I would like to apologize for the unfrequent updates of the last two months. This is mainly due to the fact that working as a sailing photographer, I'm incredibly busy with my job during summer months, that's also the reason why the great majority of the posts are related to sailing. In the last weeks I've received many kind letters from my readers who miss the other SeaWayBLOG's common topics like animals pictures and so on. The truth is that in this period I've just had the time to post pictures from my work being obviously a much faster job for me than preparing posts about other arguments. However I have not slept in the while, rather (almost like the nice crocodile waiting in ambush in the picture here above) I've kept collecting everything related to water was happening in the world, and I've got now a huge stack of notes on my desk that I hope to transform in articles as soon as possible.

Another important thing is that, as you may have noticed, today I've introduced a totally redisegned layout for SeaWayBLOG. It's the fourth in less than two years of life but as a blogger I'm never completely satisfied about it! Let me know if you like it and please be patient while I try to fix all the bugs that this kind of change always creates.

Guido

[More]

Alinghi 5 in the storm

©Carlo Borlenghi/Alinghi

Carlo Borlenghi was on Lake Geneva this monday and when a huge storm approached he didn't loose the chance to take these nice pictures of Alinghi's new catamaran with some lightnings in the background.

©Carlo Borlenghi/Alinghi

However it seems that a leopard can't change its spots.. infact during a storm in the last America's Cup in Valencia, Carlo took an amazing photo of Luna Rossa with a lightning: