Did you know the king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world? Averaging 3-3.6 m (10-12 ft.), king cobras can be as long as 5.5 m (18 ft.)! They weigh up to 9 kg (20 lb.).
King cobra in its threat display in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia. Photo by Cavan Images / iStock.com.
Despite their name, king cobras are not true cobras. They are the only species in the genus Ophiophagus, which means “snake-eating”.
Indeed, king cobras are called king cobras because they eat cobras and other snakes. They are apex predators and have few natural predators.
King cobras are native to southeastern Asia. In particular, they live in India, China, the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
They inhabit forests, bamboo thickets, mangrove swamps, and high altitude grasslands. They often live by streams and about a quarter of their time is spent in trees and bushes.
Adult king cobras may be yellow, green, brown or black with yellow-white crossbars or chevrons. Their coloring varies across habitats.
A king cobra in India. King cobra coloring varies across habitats. Photo by Prasanthdas D S / iStock.com.
King Cobra Threat Displays
King cobras are shy and prefer to escape rather than attack. However when provoked or when protecting their eggs, king cobras raise up into a threat display.
A threat display includes lifting their head and front part of their body up, making eye contact with the threat, and hissing.
They have special muscles and ribs that spread out and form a hood. This makes them look larger.
King cobra in the attack position! Notice the hole at the bottom of its mouth, called a glottis, which allows the snake to breathe while eating. Photo by DikkyOesin / iStock.com.
Their hiss is low-pitched and sounds more like a dog growling. They make this sound through special air sacs in their trachea.
When in their elevated stance, about 1.2 m (4 ft.) tall, king cobras can still move forward and follow their enemy.
What King Cobras Eat
King cobras eat a variety of snakes including Asian rat snakes, dhamans, pythons, Indian cobras, kraits, and even smaller king cobras.
They also sometimes eat lizards, eggs, and small mammals.
How King Cobras Hunt
King cobras find prey by “smelling” the air with their forked tongues. Their tongues have receptors that can pick up scent particles in the air.
A special organ on the roof of their mouth, called the vomeronasal or Jacobson’s organ, helps them identify the particles.
King cobras can also detect prey by sensing vibrations in the ground.
King cobras attack their prey by biting them. They have sharp hollow fangs that inject venom. The venom, made up of neurotoxins, causes the animal to stop breathing and their heart to stop beating.
The amount of venom delivered in one bite is enough to kill 20 people!
The king cobra has flexible jaws with stretchy ligaments that allows it to eat its prey whole. There is a hole at the bottom of its mouth, called the glottis, which allows it to breathe while eating.
King Cobra Reproduction
Breeding for king cobras happens in January through April. To attract a mate, male king cobras wrestle. The first to push the other one’s head to the ground wins.
King cobras are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. The female will gather leaves and branches and form it into a nest. In fact, king cobras are the only snakes that make nests!
Once formed, the female will lay 21-40 white leathery eggs into the center of the nest and then cover the eggs with leaves. She will sit on top to guard it.
In the fall, the eggs will hatch. The baby snakes are black with yellow or white markings.
Conservation Status
King cobras are classified by the IUCN Red List as vulnerable with their populations decreasing. Threats include deforestation, being killed for their skin or for food or medicine, and being collected for the international pet trade.
In the wild, king cobras can live for 20 years.
What You Can Do to Help
If you would like to help king cobras, you can donate to the King Cobra Conservancy.
King Cobra Range
King cobras are native to southeastern Asia. In particular, they live in India, China, the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
More King Cobra Resources
- Smithsonian’s National Zoo King Cobra page
- San Diego Zoo’s King Cobra page
- National Geographic Society’s King Cobra page
- Op den Brouw, Bianca. “Sneaky Snake Facts.” University of Melbourne School of Biomedical Sciences.
Quick Fact Sheet
Common Name(s): King Cobra
Scientific Name: Ophiophagus hannah
Animal Type: reptile
Size: Up to 5.5 m (18 ft.) long
Weight: Up to 9 kg (20 lb.)
Lifespan: 20 years
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
About the Author
Abi Cushman is a contributing editor of Animal Fact Guide and My House Rabbit. When she's not writing about weird animal facts, Abi writes and illustrates funny books for kids. Her picture books, Soaked! and Animals Go Vroom!, are available now from Viking Children's Books.
To learn more and to download free activity sheets, visit www.abicushman.com. Follow her on Instagram at @Abi.Cushman.
