One of the most feared predators in the animal kingdom isn’t a lion, a tiger, or a bear. They’re feared, of course, but not as much as the King Cobra. With their upright threatening manner and extended hood, this animal commands respect from all who dare go near one. Add in the fact that is is dangerously venomous and this iconic snake tends to be one that most people avoid.
1. It Might Not Be a Cobra
The King Cobra is the largest of all venomous snakes. That’s part of the reason behind its name. It can reach a total length of 18 feet. This is a fact that isn’t in dispute. It just isn’t actually part of the cobra family. It’s actually the only known member of its own family of snakes. It does look a lot like a cobra at first glance, however, and saying “King Cobra” is a lot easier than saying “King Ophiophagus Hannah.”
2. Is It Cannibalism?
Unlike most other species, the King Cobra actually hunts down other types of snakes when it gets hungry. This cannibalistic feature helps to distinguish this animal from the rest of the animal kingdom. On the outside occasion when another snake can’t be found, the King Cobra will hunt down some lizards or rodents. When push comes to shove and it’s time for a barbecue, however, it’s a snake burger the King Cobra wants to bake.
3. It Doesn’t Like You
King Cobras are feared and rightly so because the length of their strike is massive. The only problem is that most of these snakes are just as fearful as humans as most humans are fearful of it. There are certain animals that the King Cobra doesn’t like either, most notably the mongoose. Because the toxins in the venom don’t affect the animal as they do others, the snake tends to flee whenever possible. In studying the animal in the wild, most of them tend to be rather placid and their aggressiveness is over-exaggerated. You have to corner a King Cobra most of the time in order to get bit.
4. A Loving Parent
Most snake species will lay their eggs and call it a good day. That isn’t true for the King Cobra. The females of the species are very dedicated to taking care of their young. She’ll build a nest and then lay up to 40 eggs, guarding the area with aggression. She’ll stay with the eggs for up to 90 days so they can hatch and then she’ll leave so she isn’t tempted to have a tasty baby King Cobra feast.
5. Watch out for the Wee Ones
Baby King Cobras are just as dangerous as their adult counterparts. They are usually just a foot in length, but their venom is just as deadly as the older snakes. What makes the young ones distinct is that their colorization is quite vivid. It almost seems like it is a reflection of their personality as the baby snakes are nervous and agitated much of the time. They’ll be aggressive if they’re disturbed and unlike the older snakes, baby King Cobras like to bite multiple times if they feel threatened.
6. That’s a Strong Bite
Up to 7 ml of venom is deposited by a King Cobra’s hollow fangs on a single bite. Although that seems like an excessive amount, the snakes may be able to adjust the amount of venom that is distributed based on the size of the attacking animal that is coming their way. The paralyzing effects on humans can cause a life threatening situation in as few as 30 minutes. There are even records of a King Cobra taking down an elephant with a bite in just a few hours.
7. Let’s Go Out in a Few Months
King Cobras are like other snakes in the fact that they tend to eat their prey whole. The fangs are good for venom, but they’re not so good for chewing. As the venom works to incapacitate the prey, digestive enzymes begin working to slowly release the nutrients. With a big enough meal, it is possible that a King Cobra could go several months in-between feasts. That fact also furthers the evidence that these snakes tend to be passive unless directly threatened.
8. Is This a Lovely Boa?
King Cobras tend to strike at their food, but they’ll also use constriction techniques if necessary to make sure they get a meal. That means they’ll wrap their body around the prey in question and squeeze it until it’s ready to be eaten. It is one of the few snakes in the world that defies classification based on the way that it hunts because it incorporates all hunting methods. That’s also probably why it has the reputation that it does.
9. Here Doggy Doggy
King Cobras tend to vocalize their presence with less of a hiss than other snakes. Their vocal frequencies can reach the lower end of the human vocal range, so many times the “warning hiss” sounds a lot more like the “warning growl” one might hear from a dog. Now add in the fact that at 18 feet in length and the ability to rear up on the front third of their body, it is very possible that a threatened King Cobra could stand up tall enough to look you straight in the eye.
10. Super Camouflage
King Cobras are just one species, but they come in many colors. They’ve evolved the ability to shape their coloring to the environment they call their home. Since their habitats can range from the grasslands of China to the swamps of Southeast Asia and they’ll live in trees, swamps, or pretty much anywhere there’s an open patch of dirt, this can make them very difficult to spot. That’s why keeping eyes up and eyes down as you walk is important.
11. Can You Hear Me Know?
King Cobras are also famous because of the fact that charmers can get them to sway to the music of the flute. It’s even more impressive because these snakes don’t have the ability to hear any ambient noise. What they can do is feel the vibrations of the music and watch the movement of the musical instrument. It is this combination that entices them and lets a charmer put on a good show while busking in the marketplace.
King Cobras may not be as fierce as many people are led to believe. With that said, the nervousness of baby King Cobras is probably something that everyone should avoid. As with other animals, the more we learn about this snake, the more we realize that we’ve only scratched the surface of what there is to know.
