Petrifying Gaze: The Basilisks gaze is deadly. Anything that makes eye contact with the Basilisk will be turned to stone. (Barring magical resistance, sheer force of will against magic, or dumb luck.)

A basalisk relies on its gaze attack, using its venomous bite only when necessary.
Though they have many legs their slow metabolism renders their movements relatively sluggish, not wasting energy unnecessarily.
Anyone who's able to flee a basilisk can expect a half-hearted effort to give chase.

They are normally solitary, but will gather in colonies for mating and mutual defense in hostile environments.