Basilisk

Name:  Basilisk
Notes:  A dangerous, nearly untameable creature, Basilisks are massive serpents.  Related to species like Terran snakes, Basilisks can grow up to 50 feet (15.24 meters) and live for centuries, though exactly how long the average is remains unknown to how dangerous and hostile Basilisks are.
Equipped with a powerful paralytic venom, they are able to spit it at their prey.  When this venom comes in contact with bare flesh, it locks up the victim's muscles.  Unlike normal vipers though, Basilisks overproduce their venom to the point it regularly 'drools' out of their mouths.  Due to acidic properties in the venom, this is hazardous to plant life along a Basilisk's path, though it does make their lairs easy to spot due to the repeated exposures to the venom the surrounding ground has been stripped bare of life.
Unlike most other species of snake, Basilisks are able to rear their front portions upright like a cobra.  However, this isn't for a threat display as the animal is more than capable of maneuvering in this position.  As such, it is thought Basilisks evolved this ability in order to attack larger creatures atop long limbs that would otherwise be out of reach of the serpent's venomous fangs.
Like Moorwen, Basilisks are classified as a threat to life on the planets they are encountered on due to their massive appetites and hyper-aggression towards other living things.
Though found on numerous worlds, the specifics of how are not fully known.  Some are known to have been stowaways as young Basilisks in cargo, others were the result of intentional transplantation as a form of either pest control or biowarfare.  However, there remains numerous examples of worlds with Basilisks that remain a mystery as to how the animals got there.
Category:Species
Category:Fauna