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Presentation
The king cobra is the world's longest venomous snake. It is an impressive and fearsome reptile, characterized by its ability to rear up and display its famous hood when threatened. Despite its dangerous reputation, it is rather shy and generally avoids humans. Its scientific name Ophiophagus literally means "snake eater," which reflects its unique dietary preference.
The king cobra has an elongated and muscular body covered with smooth scales ranging from dark brown to black, often with yellow or white markings. Its head is relatively small compared to its massive body. Its eyes are medium-sized with round pupils. When defending itself, it raises the front of its body and expands its characteristic heart-shaped hood, making itself appear larger to intimidate threats.
Characteristics
Indicative values: they vary by subspecies, sex and region.
Habitat and distribution
The king cobra inhabits dense tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia, finding refuge in wooded areas and lowland forests. It is often found near water bodies and wetland areas, as these environments offer abundant prey (other snakes) and necessary moisture. It may also colonize agricultural plantations and forest edges. Unlike many snakes, it can adapt to relatively high elevations.
CURRENT RANGE
The king cobra is found exclusively in South and Southeast Asia. Its range extends from India and Bangladesh, where it is most common, throughout Southeast Asian countries: Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia (up to the Philippines). The largest populations are found in India, particularly in the coastal regions of Kerala and northeastern forested areas. It is absent from Tunisia and the rest of North Africa.
Behaviour
The king cobra is generally solitary and territorial. Although venomous and potentially dangerous, it is rather shy and prefers to flee when encountering humans. It is primarily diurnal, though it may be active at other times depending on conditions. During breeding season, males become more aggressive and fight each other for access to females. Despite its impressive size, it moves with agility both in trees and on the ground.
Reproduction
The king cobra is oviparous and breeding generally occurs during the rainy season. Females lay between 12 and 60 eggs, which they actively protect in burrows or under debris. Notably unusual for snakes, king cobras exhibit parental care: the female guards the nest and will attack any intruder. Eggs hatch after approximately 60 to 80 days, and young snakes are immediately independent.
Peculiarities
The king cobra possesses several remarkable characteristics. It is the world's longest venomous snake, even surpassing anacondas and pythons. Its scientific name Ophiophagus hannah means "snake eater," reflecting its unique diet. Unlike most snakes, it builds a nest for its eggs and actively guards them. It can also produce impressive hisses and expand its hood to 30 cm in width to intimidate aggressors. Its venom is neurotoxic and extremely potent.
Threats and conservation
The king cobra faces moderate but growing threats. Habitat loss and degradation due to deforestation, land conversion, and agricultural expansion constitute the primary threat. Wildlife trafficking for the pet trade and skin trade represents significant pressure on populations. Human persecution, driven by fear and conflicts in urban or agricultural areas, threatens populations locally. Despite these threats, the species remains relatively stable in some protected areas.
Numbers and trends vary across sources and regions. See the IUCN assessment for the latest reference data.
Gallery
1 documented photographs.
References
UICN — Liste rouge des espèces menacées
Profile updated 08 August 2026 · Reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Vulnerable (VU)
IUCN source, latest published assessment.
Similar animals
Other species documented in Animalpedia.