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Hmmm... it's space should be Large sized, but the rest is fine.Is the catoblepas in the Bestiary II supposed to be Large or Huge? He has the space and reach of a Huge creature, but all its other stats indicate that it is only Large.
What are it's correct stats?
How come this has never been errata'd?
Also,
Does someone using beast shape IV gain the catoblepas' breath weapon?
The Poison Breath extraordinary ability is not listed under the spell, so one might argue that you DON'T get it. However, breath weapons ARE listed under the spell (of which Poison Breath is clearly listed as under special attacks), so others might argue that you DO get it.
Yet still other people might argue that you get the breath weapon line of the stat block, but not the Poison Breath line. That begs the question, what then?
Specific trumps general. While the Polymorph rules say you don't get extraordinary abilities, Beast Shape and cousins explicitly say you gain certain abilities if the form has them.
As for size, that's a rather serious oversight. If it's 15x15, it's not Large. But its statistics assume Large (such as only a -1 size penalty to AC) so I think Large is intentional.
Posting my original response here, as there is now a thread expressly for the question.
As of right now, the catoblepas is a large creature with an unusual space and reach. Most likely this indeed was a mistake, as to why it hasn't been corrected is anyone's guess, but most probably it isn't regarded as that big of a deal that it is urgent it be taken care of.
The creature's Poison Breath is a specific type of the more general category breath weapon. Beast Shape 4 gives you breath weapons, which indeed is what poison breath is.
I expect the large size is correct, and that 15x15 space is trying to account for the long neck in a lot of the catoblepas artwork. It is essentially a large creature with a natural reach weapon. That really should have been spelled out though.
Awww, my favorite Protean change shape target...
I've never quite understood this issue, either. Seems worthy of da faq. Just don't take away the Disenchanter from my list of Protean change shape targets and we'll be ok. ^.^
Seeing as how it's not listed in the Special Attacks section as "Poison Breath" but instead as "Breath Weapon (60 foot cone, poison, etc.), it seems as if you would indeed gain it's breath weapon.
As to the size issues: I can't think of any specific creatures that are 15x15 and have 15 foot reach. Even dragons (who historically have long-reaching bites) have a specific call-out to the fact, giving them 5 more feet of reach with their bite. Seems like the catoblepas should have something similar.