Basilisk

In European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk (English pronunciation: /ˈbæzɪlɪsk/[1], from the Greek βασιλίσκος basilískos, "little king"; Latin Regulus) is a legendary reptile reputed to be king of serpents and said to have the power to cause death with a single glance. According to the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder, the basilisk of Cyrene is a small snake, "being not more than twelve fingers in length",[2] that is so venomous that it leaves a wide trail of deadly venom in its wake, and its gaze is likewise lethal; its weakness is in the odour of the weasel, which according to Pliny, was thrown into the basilisk's hole, recognisable because all the surrounding shrubs and grass had been scorched by its presence.

Basiliscus is also the name of a genus of small lizards, (family Corytophanidae). The Green Basilisk, also called plumed basilisk, is a lizard that can run across the surface of water by rapid strides of its splayed rear feet.

The first recorded basilisk was bred by herpo the foul,a greek dark wizard and parselmouth, Who discovered after much experimenting that a chicken egg hatched beneath a toad would produce a giant serpent possessed of dangerous powers.

This creature is a brilliat green serpant that may reach up to fifty feet long.The male has a scarlet plume upon its head. It has exceptionally venomous fangs but its most dangerous meansof attack is the gaze of its large yellow eyes. Anyone who looks directly into these will suffer instant death.

Sorces: The book Fantastic Creatures & Where To Find Them, and .... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilisk