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Learn about the king cobra, the world's longest venomous snake, endemic to Asia. Find out its taxonomy, description, distribution, behaviour, ecology, conservation and cultural significance.
- 20 years
- Over 18 feet in length (5.85m)
- India, southern China, and Southeast Asia
- The King Cobra is Not a True Cobra. There is some debate over what exactly a ‘cobra’ is. Depending on how a cobra is classified, there are between 28 – 270 different species of cobra.
- The King Cobra is the Longest of All Venomous Snakes. The king cobra is the longest venomous snake of the hundreds of species that exist in the animal kingdom.
- Their ‘Neck-flap’ Hoods Are Actually Ribs. Some people think that king cobras always wear flared hoods. But that’s not the case. A king cobra’s unique hood flares around its face when it is defending itself as a threat display.
- King Cobras Live for a Long Time. These snakes have a lifespan of over twenty years in the wild. They are less vulnerable to droughts, food shortages, and other natural disasters than other animals and reptiles may be since they can go for extended periods of time without eating and don’t need much water.
Jul 31, 2024 · king cobra, (Ophiophagus hannah), the world’s largest venomous snake, found predominantly in forests from India through Southeast Asia to the Philippines and Indonesia. The snake’s maximum confirmed length is 5.6 metres (18 feet), but most do not exceed 3.6 metres (12 feet).
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn about the king cobra, the longest and most venomous snake in the world, and how it lives, hunts, and defends itself. Find out why this species is vulnerable to extinction and what is being done to protect it.
Learn about the king cobra, a venomous snake that can kill and eat other cobras. Find out how it lives, communicates, hunts and reproduces in Asia, and what threats it faces.
Learn about the King cobra, the world's longest venomous snake that lives in Asia and preys on other snakes. Find out how it uses its venom, hood, and hiss to defend itself and why it is the national reptile of India.
Learn about the king cobra, a venomous snake that lives in South and Southeast Asia. Find out how it hunts, defends itself, and builds nests for its eggs.
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