{"id":40536,"date":"2024-08-07T11:05:06","date_gmt":"2024-08-07T09:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/686d69d6-1c4b-4c47-9ca3-33532a7c2a00"},"modified":"2024-08-07T12:27:30","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T10:27:30","slug":"meet-the-king-cobra-one-of-the-worlds-deadliest-and-much-feared-snakes","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/meet-the-king-cobra-one-of-the-worlds-deadliest-and-much-feared-snakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the king cobra, one of the world’s deadliest and much-feared snakes\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

All you need to know about one of the world’s most venomous snakes, the king cobra <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 07 August 2024 at 09:05 AM<\/p>

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The much-feared venomous king cobra, from south and Southeast Asia, is the longest venomous snake in the world<\/strong>. Learn all about them in this expert guide<\/strong><\/p>

How big are king cobras<\/h2>
King cobras can grow up to 5.49m in length\u00a0(the record for the\u00a0species is 5.71m<\/a>) and weigh up to 9kg.<\/p>
What do king cobras look like?<\/h2>
The coloration of king cobras\u00a0varies, but scales are shades of black, brown\u00a0or\u00a0olive green with yellow\/white chevron-shaped markings and it has a pale underside. It also has a pair of large scales on top of its head (occipital scales)<\/p>
The king cobra<\/strong> is famous for its ‘hood’ formed from neck, ribs and muscles <\/p>
Adult king cobras shed their skin about four to six times per year\u00a0<\/p>
Angry king cobra in attack position<\/figcaption><\/figure>Where do king cobras live?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>
King cobras have\u00a0a\u00a0vast range and can be found in Bangladesh; Bhutan; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Nepal; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand and Vietnam. The species primarily inhabits pristine forests but also occurs in degraded forest, mangrove swamps and agricultural areas with remnants of woodland.\u00a0<\/p>
What do king cobras eat?<\/strong><\/h2>
It is known as the king cobra because it mainly feeds on other snakes, including other cobras. <\/p>
Why do snakes eat each other?<\/a><\/li>
What do snakes eat?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
The only member of the\u00a0Ophiophagus<\/em>\u00a0genus also hunts small mammals, birds and lizards, and has been known to eat its own species. Both revered and feared, the deadly reptile is often associated with mythology and folklore.\u00a0<\/p>
How do king cobras hunt?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>
Diurnal king cobras use their sense of smell to locate their prey and inject neurotoxins via fangs to immobilise their victims; other toxins also start the digestive process before prey is swallowed whole. <\/p>
How venomous are king cobras<\/strong><\/h2>One bite from a king cobra contains enough neurotoxins to kill 20 humans or an elephant<\/a>, which is why this species is named as one of\u00a0 the world\u2019s deadliest snakes<\/a>. <\/p>
The venom<\/a> attacks the respiratory centres in the brain, leading to respiratory arrest and cardiac failure.<\/p>
Deadly cobra bites to “drastically reduce” as scientists discover new antivenom<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
How fast are king cobras?<\/strong><\/h2>
King cobras can move at speeds of up 19kph, swim and climb, making them formidable hunters.\u00a0<\/p>
Are king cobras aggressive?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure>
If confronted, a king cobra\u00a0is capable of\u00a0lifting\u00a0up to a third of its body off the ground while\u00a0proceeding\u00a0to attack. The reptile spreads its distinctive hood by extending its ribs and skin to appear bigger and emits a growl-like hiss as a warning. <\/p>
Do king cobras attack humans?<\/strong><\/h2>
Despite its aggressive reputation, king cobras are responsible for\u00a0reportedly\u00a0fewer than five human deaths a year. They are generally shy snakes that tend to avoid people, choosing to flee unless provoked. However, nesting females are more likely to attack.<\/p>
How do king cobras breed?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>
King cobras reach maturity at about five to six years old. The breeding season for the snake depends on where it lives. Males engage in dramatic displays\u00a0to compete for mating rights, intertwining and wrestling to push the other\u2019s head to the ground. <\/p>
How do snakes mate? A guide to snake sex<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
After mating,\u00a0 females build a nest of dead leaves:<\/a>\u00a0king cobras are the only species of snake to exhibit this behaviour. Once the eggs are laid, females stay on their nests throughout the incubation period. Newly hatched king cobras measure about 50cm long.\u00a0<\/p>
How long do King cobras live?<\/strong><\/h2>
King cobras can live up to 20 years in the wild on average. <\/p>
How long do snakes live?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
How many species of king cobra are there?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>There may be four distinct species of king cobra, reports\u00a0 Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(2021), which found that four lineages were not regional variants of one species, but were instead genetically separate from one another. <\/p>
The proposed species (yet to be named) are from the following sub-regions: Western Ghats, Indo-Chinese, Indo-Malayan and\u00a0Luzon island\u00a0(Philippine archipelago). Although king cobras share similarities, they have some physical and behavioural differences depending on where they\u00a0live.\u00a0<\/p>
What threatens king cobras?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>What is needed to protect king cobras?<\/strong><\/h2>Listed in\u00a0 CITES Appendix II<\/a>, the king cobra has been regionally assessed in India (Near Threatened), China (Critically Endangered) and Vietnam (Critically Endangered). According to the\u00a0 IUCN<\/a>, there are protected areas within its range that\u00a0probably\u00a0provide small safeguards from harvesting pressure. Conservation measures are needed to reduce the rate of habitat destruction where the snake occurs and to manage its trade.\u00a0<\/p>
The king cobra holds a special cultural significance in the Indian subcontinent. It is regarded as the national reptile of India. Killing a king cobra is a serious offence in India with imprisonment of up to six years!<\/p>
Discover more fascinating snake species and facts<\/strong><\/p>
Get to know the fearsome black mamba \u2013 one of the word’s deadliest snakes<\/a><\/li>
Discover the weirdest snakes in the world, from flying serpents to spider-tailed vipers. There’s even a hairy species…<\/a><\/li>
How do snakes move?<\/a><\/li>
What’s the world’s fastest snake?<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
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