35 Amazing and Interesting Facts about King Cobra | Amazing Facts 4U
- The King Cobra species was first described in 1836 by a Danish naturalist by the name of Theodore Edward Cantor.
- The king cobra also known as Ophiphagus Hannah is the world’s largest venomous snake.
- It actually belongs to a genus of its own, called Ophipohagus under the Elapidae family. It is not a member of the Naja genus which includes most cobra species, known as “true cobras”.
- The Ophipohagus Hannah has 11 large scales on his head which resemble a King’s crown, hence his majestic name. Ophiophagus is actually a Latin word for “Snake Eater”.
- The King is a great climber and an excellent swimmer, and his preferred spots are areas with lakes, streams, or near swamps. His habitat can also include open fields or agricultural areas.
- In fact, King cobra is a ferocious snake eater looking for small pythons and rat snakes, and also other cobras.
- The easiest way of identifying a King Cobra is by its pair of large scales at the back of its head. These are unique to the King.
- They are commonly found in the rainforest of countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, India, China, the Philippines, Burma, Nepal and Bangladesh.
- An average length of king cobra ranges between 3-4 meters and weighs 6 kg. The male king is usually larger and thicker than the female.
- The colors of King Cobras can vary depending on their geographic location. The Kings in China are usually dark brown or even black, banded with yellow, white or brown. The Kings in India are mostly olive green with yellow bands, while the Kings is Southeast Asia will usually be completely olive green or yellow-green.
- They have an expandable head that allows it to swallow its prey.
- An average cobra can live up to 20 years or even more.
- In some cultures, king cobra is treated with a lot of respect. Its images are found in the entrance of many Buddhist and Hindu temples.
- They are very shy and usually avoid confrontation with human by escaping, however they can be very aggressive if threatened or provoked when they raise a third of its body, making forward or backward movement as it exposes it fangs while producing hissing sound.
- King cobra snake has a poor sense of hearing; although it can pick ground vibration very well. In addition, it has a very sensitive organ (Jacobson organ), and a forked tongue that allows it to picks the sense of smell and use it to detect presence of prey.
- It can see very well at night and spot its prey moving 100 meters away.
- The King Cobra is said to be far more intelligent, active and alert than any other snake on the planet.
- The King also has two fixed fangs in the front of his mouth. These deadly fangs are used like needles to inject the venom into its prey.
- After you are bitten, venom targets the central nervous system, eventually leading to kidney, heart and lung failure. Initial symptoms include pain, drowsiness, a stumbling gait, blurred vision, paralysis of the limbs, convulsions, headache and loss of consciousness. Death is usually due to respiratory failure caused by neurotoxins.
- In fact, a bite by a King Cobra can lead to death within thirty minutes.
- Amazingly King cobra is known to inject a large amount of neurotoxin from just a single bite enough to kill at least 20 people or an adult elephant.
- The young ones are equally dangerous since they can produce as much venom as the adult.
- King cobra is able to hunt throughout the day, and is hardly seen at night making use of his high alertness and intelligence.
- There are only two types of anti-venom produced for treating bites by King Cobras. One is manufactured in Thailand by the Red Cross, while the other is made in India by the Central Research Institute.
- One herbal remedy that may be tried until medical help arrives is a mixture of ground root turmeric with alcohol.
- The untreated fatality rate of King Cobra’s victims is 50-60%.
- King cobra venom doesn’t affect mongoose which makes it easier for it to attack and kill the king with ease
- Its meal consists of eggs, frogs, toads, fish, the rat snake, small python snake, and other species of cobra including its own kind. It is also known of devouring krait which is also a very poisonous snake.
- It has a very slow metabolism and a single large prey swallowed whole can suffice for a month. Its fondness for rat may drive it close to human habitat.
- King cobra is the only snake in the world that makes nest on the ground for laying eggs the same way as birds do on top of trees. The nest is made up of leaves and sticks into a mound where she deposits her egg.
- The female lays approximately 20-40 eggs on the nest.
- The incubation time will last between 60-90 days. The nest is protected by both male and female from intruders, although the female will move away once the eggs have hatched so as to avoiding eating the young ones.
- Hatchlings will reach average lengths of 20 inch (50 cm), and will have venom that is as strong and powerful as that of adult kings. They can fully defend themselves, exactly like their parents. Baby kings are usually very nervous during their first few weeks, so if disturbed they might become extremely aggressive.
- Juvenile Kings are shiny black stripped by narrow yellow bands. As they grow older, they acquire the famous olive green color of a King. However, it may take some time until a young King Cobra can display its notorious hood.
- In India, the King Cobras have been placed under the Wildlife Protection Act and 6-year imprisonment can be given to anyone who kills a King.
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