[4] The brown basilisk has large hind feet with narrow flaps of skin on the distal edge of each toe.

The male brown basilisk can reach 61 centimetres (24 in) in total length (including tail), but the female is somewhat smaller.

[citation needed] Smaller brown basilisks can run about 10–20 m (33–66 ft) on the water without sinking.

If the animal faces danger, it starts to run very fast on the surface of a river or a lake.

[citation needed] Female brown basilisks lay about 2–18 eggs, five to eight times a year.