Facts about King Cobra
- 08
Hatchling king cobras measure approximately 18 inches long and are fully venomous from birth, capable of delivering a potentially lethal bite within hours of emerging from their eggs.
- 07
Expandable ribs allow king cobras to flatten their necks into a distinctive hood by spreading specialized elongated vertebrae, a dramatic threat display unique among most snake species.
- 06
In Southeast Asia, king cobras can live up to 20 years in the wild and reach lengths exceeding 10 feet, making them the world's longest venomous snake species.
- 05
Nesting female king cobras construct mounds of leaves and vegetation up to 8 feet wide to incubate their 20-40 eggs, actively guarding the nest for months until hatching.
- 04
Ophiophagus hannah, the king cobra's scientific name, literally translates to snake-eater because these snakes prey exclusively on other serpents, including venomous species and even other king cobras.
- 03
During courtship, male king cobras engage in elaborate combat dances lasting hours, intertwining bodies and striking at each other's heads without injecting venom.
- 02
A single king cobra can produce up to 7 milliliters of venom per bite, enough neurotoxin to kill 20 adult humans within hours.
- 01
The king cobra can raise up to one-third of its body off the ground and deliver venom enough to kill an elephant in a single bite.