Flaming Basilisk

Pyrospondylus calderensis

Living in the flame-ridden leaf litter of the molten forests found in the caldera that makes up the main island of Calder is a large lepospondyl amphibian called the Flaming Basilisk, a serpent-like predator. For an amphibian to survive in such a hot and dry environment, the Flaming Basilisk has adapted to secrete an oily substance that retains moisture in the skin layer, allowing the animal to spend extended amounts of time on land. This substance is also used to defend itself; when accosted by a predator, the flaming basilisk pushes out the oil which itself is foul in taste but also highly flammable but dense enough that the flame does not touch the amphibians skin, creating an armour of fire. Basilisks can also spit this oil onto prey, immobilizing them or even setting them on fire if a spark is applied.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Subclass: Lepospondyli
Order: Aistopoda
Family: Oestocephalidae
Genus: Pyrospondylus
Species: P. calderensis