Cockatrice
The cockatrice appears to be a mix of a lizard, a rooster, and a bat. Its most widely known for its magical ability to turn any creature it bites to stone. Most are typically covered in blue feathers on their body, while their head and tail is golden/yellow. Though as they get older they begin to lose many of their feathers, making them look even more monstrous. Males and females can be told apart by a red waddle and crest on the head, or lack there of.
The beak of a cockatrice causes stone petrification for about 24 hours. The tail feathers will cause stone petrification until undone. The cockatrice's beak loses its petrifying ability upon death, however the tail feathers can retain their magic for up to 4 days. Some say there is an ancient ritual known only by a few of the most ancient creatures which can cause the tail feathers to retain their magic permanently.
Although dangerous, Cockatrice are actually somewhat sought after by some farmers as they make exceptional pest control animals as well as guard animals.
Diet
An opportunistic omnivore, the cockatrice will eat anything from berries, nuts, and flowers to mice, frogs, and small insects.Social Structure
Cockatrice are normally more solitary animals, building a lair or nest site that they will live in for the rest of their lives. Always looking for treasures or shiny objects to decorate their lairs with to attract mates. Once a month at the waxing of the moon, a male and female will get together to mate. The female will lay one or two eggs (typically brownish red with rust colored flecks) which she will watch over while the male goes out to find food. More often than not the eggs will not hatch as most cockatrices are infertile, but if they do the female watches over the juveniles until they gain their petrification magic around 6 months of age. Eggs normally hatch between 11-13 days. If eggs continue to keep coming up infertile, the adults will abandon the current nest site in search of a new one. Once abandoned, they will never return to a prior nest site and occasionally even show fear upon being forced.Uses
The saliva of a cockatrice can be used to make an anti-petrification elixer.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
13 years
Average Height
1.5 feet
Average Weight
7.5 lbs
Geographic Distribution