King Cobra Facts
- The truly impressive King Cobra remains best known to the world for one outstanding fact. That’s the amazing statistic that it ranks as the longest known species of venomous snake known to man. Despite its great length, however, it remains rather surprisingly light.
- The most frequently used common name of this reptile creates a great deal of confusion, however, being very deceptive. That’s because, regardless of its other impressive attributes, it does not qualify as a true cobra. True cobras have decidedly different physical attributes.
- The reptile does have several other general appellations, however. That includes Hamadryad, derived from Greek mythology. Others consist of such tags as Raj Nag, meaning king of snakes, Serpent King, referencing its title, and Giant Cobra, understandably due to its size.
- Within the scientific world, though, it’s perhaps better known by its technical designation. That tag, unfortunately, like many such terms, remains somewhat difficult for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because this wonder of Nature holds the formal tag Ophiophagus hannah.
- Regardless of which term one uses, it remains worthy of respect. In point of fact, this remarkable animal actually forms the sole member of its own genus. No other known species even comes close to its physical qualities. This fact alone also makes the snake of great interest.
- This fascinating serpent also easily qualifies as fully worthy of being considered extremely dangerous to humans if provoked. This status holds true due to a combination of impressive factors. Those are the toxicity of its venom, and the quantity of the venom produced.
- For the moment, the IUCN lists the amazing King Cobra as Vulnerable. That status is reflected on the organization’s Red List of Threatened Species. Habitat loss forms a grave peril for the creature, given its region, of course. It also faces the threat of climate change, like other species.
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King Cobra Physical Description
The mesmerizing King Cobra immediately captures the attention of those who encounter it, especially in the wild. That’s true due to combination of several reasons, however. Given its notorious reputation, most people recognize it on sight. It also impresses people because of its size.
In terms of physical attributes, the animal follows a pattern common among many species on earth. That’s the fact that it displays a certain degree of the physiological characteristic of sexual dimorphism. In the case of this particular animal, that trait manifests itself in terms of dimensions.
Among this variety of snake, males attain a greater size on average than their female counterparts. This extends to both length and body mass. This gender reaches up to 18 ft (5.5 m) in total length. The males of the remarkable product of evolution also typically possess thicker tails than females.
Individuals of that sex, meanwhile, reach notably shorter lengths than the males. These, in fact, rarely exceed 13 ft (4 m) in length. Although weights vary greatly between individuals, for a wide variety of reasons, overall measured females also achieve a lower average body mass than males.
When referencing those weights, however, it’s worth noting that the differences remain completely relative. A mean weight for an individual of either sex, excluding gravid females, of course, only equals roughly 13 lb (6 kg). The heaviest example ever recorded only weighed 26 lb (12 kg).
Despite the typical image of the King Cobra, body colors actually vary significantly between individuals. These range from olive green, brown, or black with pale yellow or cream-colored bands. The underbelly of the fascinating snake generally shows lighter, usually being pale yellow or cream.
Other aspects of the body also distinguish this species. The head evolved as noticeably broad and slifgtly flattened, as well. Unlike true cobras, its hood’s narrower but still flares when threatened. Fascinatingly, it further developed relatively large, round eyes with golden or copper-colored irises.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Elapidae
- Genus: Ophiophagus
- Species: O. hannah
King Cobra Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
The stunning Kind Cobra evolved as indigenous to a moderately broad portion of the surface of the earth. Given its exotic nature, the precise location of that zone of habitation likely won’t surprise anyone here. The marvelous reptile developed as native to a very respectable portion of Asia.
In the southern portion of that region, it’s found inside the borders of the nations of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. In southeastern Asia, it lives in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It’s also known to reside within at least four provinces in China.
Nature also provided it with an evolutionary advantage over many of its competitors. That’s true since it displays a high degree of flexibility regarding its choice of habitat. The marvel of evolution therefore thrives in a variety of habitats, primarily in various tropical and subtropical regions.
In all of these, though, it prefers areas with ample cover and access to water. It’s frequently found in dense, humid, tropical rainforests in its range. The wonder’s also frequently observed in areas comprised of mangrove forests. There, it’s generally spotted near river deltas and coastal regions.
It also shows a distinct fondness for both bamboo thickets and deciduous forests, the denser the better. The snake also inhabits sections of grasslands and even agricultural areas. Another flexibility concerns altitude, since it’s found at heights reaching up to 6,600 ft (2,000 m) above sea level.
Setting itself apart from most others, the creature also primarily preys on other snakes. However, most individuals occasionally consume small invertebrates. The King Cobra is classified as diurnal, primarily hunting during the day. During the night, it remains concealed, unless disturbed.
Despite its somewhat exaggerated reputation, this highly evolved reptile isn’t typically aggressive unless it’s provoked. When this happens, though, it raises as much as one-third of its entire body length into the air. Subsequent to that action, it also flattens its head in final preparation to strike.
Nature provided this efficient predator with yet another ability that both sets it apart and provides it with a distinct advantage. It’s fully capable of delivering multiple envenomings in a single encounter. Although it certainly isn’t the only poisonous snake of which this is true, it’s extremely uncommon.
In addition to its other unique attributes, this intriguing member of its Class represents the only known snake that builds nests for its eggs. These it builds using dry leaves and twigs. One mating produces between 7-43 eggs. Those that survive to adulthood live an average of about 20 years.
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