The King Cobra Snake (Ophiophagus hannah) is the largest venomous snake in the world. The King Cobra snake is also perhaps the most dangerous snake in the world where humans are concerned. Under conditions of high prey availability they can reach a length of 18.5 feet. Several people die from the bite of the King Cobra each year. A King Cobra can even kill an elephant.
KING COBRA SNAKE CHARACTERISTICS
The King Cobra snake is the largest of the venomous land snakes, growing up to 18.5 feet (5.7 metres) in length and with a width of up to 1 foot (0.3 metres) at the neck. However, as they are generally slender, King Cobras usually do not exceed 44 pounds (20 kilograms) in weight. Male King Cobras are longer and weigh more than female King Cobras, this is very unusual since in most snake species, the male is smaller than the female.
The King Cobra can lift a third of its body off the ground. In fact, an 18 foot King Cobra, if stood upright, could actually look down onto the average human being. Like other snakes bearing the cobra name, the King Cobra can also flatten its neck, giving it the distinctive hood. When the King Cobra is threatened or on the attack, it will hiss, rear up and flatten its neck ribs into the hood. There are false eyespots on the hood, which can scare some predators.
Even though their scaly skin glistens, it is actually dry to the touch. Adults cobras are yellow, green, brown, or black. Their throat is light yellow or cream coloured. Juveniles are black with yellow or white bars crossing the body.
Habitat
Distributed from India east to China and south to the Philippines, the king cobra is not a common species probably because it is the top predator in the food chain. It inhabits rainforests and bamboo thickets.
Diet
Although birds and mammals are sometimes taken, the favourite food of the king cobra is, surprisingly, other snakes. Pythons, tree snakes or other venomous species are all eaten. In captivity the species can be weaned onto more conventional food items such as rodents at an early age.
Reproduction
King cobras are the only snake species which actively construct a nest to incubate the eggs. The female gathers large quantities of fallen leaves and other rotted vegetation into a mound into which she lays her clutch of up to 50 eggs. She will then stand guard over the nest for the full incubation period of 2-3 months, chasing away anything that approaches the nest.