nature animals · Ages 9-12

The Lizard That Ran Across Water Before Sinking

A basilisk lizard can sprint on water for a short distance by striking fast, spreading its feet, and trapping air before gravity wins.

The whole story

1. At first light, Basil climbed down a root and crouched beside the rainforest creek. Across the water, a flat stone held a bright patch of sun.

2. Basil wanted the warm stone. The creek was too wide for one easy leap, and its stepping stones were round, wet, and far apart.

3. He tried the stones first. His lifted foot found only a slick curve, so Basil curled his tail, stepped back, and watched the water gather itself below.

4. Then Basil lowered his body and spread his toes. He struck the surface once. The water dimpled, but it did not hold him.

5. For a short stretch, his feet made bright dimples in the creek. Then his belly touched the water, and Basil paddled calmly back to the bank.

6. Basil stayed on the root and tried again with his toes. A fast strike pushed water down. A wide foot caught a little air. A quick lift left room for the next strike.

7. This time, Basil did not aim for the first stone. He aimed for the far bank, where the warm rock waited, and set every toe wide.

8. His feet struck fast, one after the other. They spread wide, trapped air beneath them, and pressed the surface down before it could close.

9. Basil reached the stone, though gravity caught his last hind foot. He climbed up, shook the creek from his toes, and settled into the sun.

10. A basilisk lizard can sprint on water for a short distance by striking fast, spreading its feet, and trapping air before gravity wins.

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