Kill Stare (Animal Trait)

The kill stare is an animal trait that kills whoever looks the emitter in the eyes. This ability is found in some creatures is because of an evolutionary adaptation which causes the eyes to emit bioluminescent flashing lights that causes a deadly form of epilepsy in the victim. This ability is found most notably in Basilisks.
The other name of the kill stare is the basilisk effect. This comes from the ability of these great snakes to kill their victims by staring at them. The reason why this kills is that the eyes emit a form of bioluminescence that translates as quick flashes of light that cause epileptic seizures, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and finally rigor mortis in quick succession in the target. Combating this effect is possible with anticonvulsants.
While undoubtedly deadly, cases of basilisks using the kill stare are very rare, due to the massive amount of energy it takes for the basilisk to achieve bioluminescence, but also due to the requirement for the target to look directly into the beast's eyes for the effect to take place. Another reason that the basilisk is reluctant to use the kill stare is that the ensuing rigor mortis makes digestion difficult, even when it inflates its stomach for ease of digestion.
Category:Animal Trait
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Category:Biology of Welt