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A king cobra's bite, and subsequent envenomation, is an immediate medical emergency in humans or domesticated animals, as, if not treated as soon as possible, death can occur in as little as 30 minutes.
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 lives in South and Southeast Asia. Find out how it hunts, defends itself, and builds nests for its eggs.
- 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.
Jun 3, 2024 · Learn about the king cobra, the world's largest venomous snake, that lives in forests from India to Southeast Asia. Find out how it hunts, breeds, defends itself, and faces threats from humans and habitat loss.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn about the king cobra, the largest venomous snake in the world, native to India and Southeast Asia. Find out how they hunt, breed, and interact with humans and other snakes.
The King cobra ( Ophiophagus hannah) is a highly venomous snake endemic to jungles in Southern and Southeast Asia. The sole member of the genus Ophiophagus, it is distinguishable from other cobras, most noticeably by its size and neck patterns.
