King Cobra

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = King Cobra | image = KINGCOBRA.jpg | image_width = 250px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Reptilia | ordo = Squamata | familia = Elapidae | genus = Ophiophagus | species = O. hannah | binomial = Ophiophagus hannah | binomial_authority = (Cantor, 1836) }}

The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the longest of the venomous land snakes, growing up to 18.5 feet (5.7 meters) in length. The snake's venom is a powerful neurotoxin known to be frequently fatal to humans. The mortality rate of king cobra bites is about 75% amongst treatable cases. The king cobra is known to attack larger snakes, including pythons. In spite of the king cobra's fearsome reputation, it is generally a shy and reclusive animal, avoiding confrontations with people as far as possible.

Like all cobras, the king cobra lifts around a third of its body off the ground, makes a hood, and hisses loudly when it feels threatened. A fully-grown king cobra would therefore be able to stare at a standing human directly in the eye, making it a terrifying sight to an unsuspecting human and giving it a near-mythical reputation as a deadly snake.

1 Habitat
2 Hunting, diet and venom
3 Breeding and lifestyle
4 Gallery
5 Other versions
6 External link

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Habitat

The king cobra lives in much of mainland India, southern China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and throughout the dense highland forests of southeastern Asia, but not Sri Lanka. In the mountainous regions of India, king cobras have been known to live in altitudes exceeding 6,500 feet (approx. 2000m) above sea level. The snake has a preference for living areas dotted with lakes and streams, and is an excellent swimmer. King cobra populations have dropped in some areas of its range due to the destruction of forests, but despite this the snake is in no danger of becoming extinct.

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Hunting, diet and venom

King cobras, like all other snakes, smell using their forked tongue. When the scent of a potential meal has been detected, the snake will rely on its excellent eyesight (able to detect moving prey almost 330 feet (100 meters) away), sensitivity to vibrations, and outstanding intelligence (compared to that of other cobra species) to track its prey. Following envenomation, the king cobra will begin to swallow its struggling prey whole (due to a lack of serrated cutting teeth) while toxins begin digesting the victim. A cobra is able to draw the prey into its stomach due to its angled fangs, and by alternating movements of its lower jaw. Like all snakes, king cobras are able to dislocate their lower jaws to swallow prey much larger than their head.

The king cobra's diet is mainly composed of other snakes (ophiophagy). The scientific name Ophiophagus is derived from the Greek word meaning "snake-eater". When food is scarce though, king cobras will also feed on other small vertebrates, such as lizards. After a large meal the snake may live for many months without another meal due to a very slow metabolic rate. King cobras are able to hunt at all times of day, although it is rarely seen at night, leading some to erroneously classify it as a diurnal species.

In the event that a king cobra encounters a threatening natural predator, such as the mongoose, which while not immune to the snake's venom, has some resistance to the neurotoxins,^[1] the cobra will generally try to flee. If all else fails, the cobra will flatten its upper ribs forming a hood around its neck and emit a high-pitched hiss. Sometimes with feigned closed-mouth strikes.

King cobra venom, which is composed mostly of proteins and polypeptides, is produced in specialized salivary glands just behind the animal's eyes. When the king cobra bites its prey, venom is forced through the snake's half-inch-long (8-10 mm) fangs and into the wound. A king cobra is capable of injecting more venom than any other snake except the gaboon viper. In fact, a king cobra can deliver enough venom to kill a full-grown Indian Elephant in 3 hours.

King cobra venom attacks the victim's nervous system and quickly induces severe pain, blurred vision, vertigo, drowsiness, and paralysis. In the minutes following, cardiovascular collapse occurs, and the prey falls into a coma. Death soon follows due to respiratory failure. There are two types of antivenin made specifically to treat king cobra envenomations. The Red Cross in Thailand manufactures one, and the Central Research Institute in India manufactures another. Both are made in small quantity, and are not widely avaiable.^[2] Several studies indicate that the annual mortality incidence in India is still 5.6-12.6 per 100,000 of population.Template:Fact

Drop for drop the king cobra's venom is less lethal than many other snakes, including that of the black mamba and common cobra, but the volume injected can be as much as .2 fluid ounces (7 mL), which makes up for lack of potency and is enough to kill 20-30 people.Template:Fact

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Breeding and lifestyle

King cobras live solitary lives until the month of January, when females begin molting and pheromones are released from the snake's shedded skin. This attracts potential mates. If more than one male king cobra arrives they fight over the female. King cobras fight by trying to force their rival to the ground in order to establish strength and dominance. The victor will court the female until she is receptive. The male king cobra will entwine his body around the female to mate. The pair may stay locked in this position for many hours.

The pair will cooperate to find a suitable nesting spot. Nests are built typically in the month of April. Despite having no limbs, the female remarkably constructs her nest of dead bamboo leaves by scooping them up with her large body. Females then lay approximately 20-50 eggs two months after mating, with an incubation period ranging from 60-80 days. The female will then lie on the nest until just before the eggs hatch, at which point instinct will cause the mother to leave the young so as to prevent her from eating them. The male king cobra is similarly unique in that he stays to guard the nesting area until the young hatch, patrolling a large area around the nest for threats. Such complex nesting and rearing behaviour is unique among snakes.

Though many people say there is nothing more aggressive than a mother king cobra protecting her nest, it is an old wives' tale, and with a little coaxing she will leave the nest site. The hatchlings are born with lethal venom, are between 45 and 50 centimeters long, and marked with black and white banding.

Though king cobras are widely spread throughout India and southern Asia, there are no known subspecies. The king cobra has one of the longest lifespans among snakes (25 years or more). It can stand in an upright threatening posture with its hood as high as 6 feet (1.80m) and even move in an upright stance; it can stare an average human in the eye. The Greek and Macedonian soldiers of Alexander the Great mentioned encounters with a huge snake which could do this, and only the king cobra fits the description.

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