Fossils of a lizard have been discovered in the state of Wyoming, United States. As per the researchers, the lizard used to once walk on the surface of waters. The fossils belong to the earliest known members of the species that was later known as the group of Jesus Lizards.

The lizard has been named as Babibasiliscus alxi and is the oldest known member of the Corytophanidae group to which Jesus Lizard belongs. Today also, the relatives of this group are present and they thrive in the warm climate from the region between central Mexico and northern Colombia. There are nine species of these types of lizards.

The lizard could walk on the surface of water. It is therefore, the lizard was named after Jesus Christ, as it has been described in the Bible that he could walk on the sea.

Jesus lizard used to eat snakes, fish, insects and other insects. The researchers said that when Babibasiliscus alxi used to roam the lands of today's Wyoming, at that time the local climate in that area was quite similar as what is today in Earth's tropical and subtropical regions.

As per the researchers, the Jesus lizard was active during the day and used to spend majority of his time in trees. Jack Conrad from American Museum of Natural History said that the ancient lizard's descendants and their migration provide an idea about climate change. Other modern day species of Jesus lizards include iguanas and chameleons.