The king cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake, capable of reaching 5.5 meters and delivering enough venom in a single bite to kill an adult elephant. Despite its fearsome reputation, the king cobra is a specialist feeder that preys almost exclusively on other snakes, including other venomous species. It is the only snake in the world known to build a nest — constructing a multi-chambered leaf pile in which the female guards her eggs, a level of parental care highly unusual in reptiles.
About the King Cobra
Ophiophagus hannah
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💡 Fun Facts
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The king cobra is the only snake that builds a nest and guards its eggs — the female maintains the temperature by incubating with her own body heat.
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A single king cobra bite can deliver enough venom (up to 7 ml) to kill a full-grown elephant.
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King cobras are immune to the venom of most other cobra species they regularly eat.
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The king cobra raises its head up to 1.8 m off the ground when threatened — tall enough to look an adult human in the eye.
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Their scientific name Ophiophagus means 'snake-eater' — the only snake genus named specifically for its diet.
📍 Where to Find This Animal
Habitat Types:
Tropical Rainforest
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