King cobra

Ophiophagus hannah

The longest venomous snake in the world

Numbers

Weight: 26 lbapplies to the longest specimens; Wikidata has no mass value
Length: 10 ftusual length; some specimens reach and exceed 16 feet
Lifespan: 20 yearsaverage indicated in materials; Wikidata does not report lifespan
Injected venom: 7 mlin a single bite
Height of threat posture: 3 ftfront part of the body raised off the ground
Maximum altitude: 6500 ftabove 6,500 feet in parts of its range

it does not belong to the genus Naja: it is the only species in the genus Ophiophagus, which means snake eater.
its fangs are short for the size of the animal, rarely exceeding half an inch in length.
it can be recognized by two large scales behind its head, called occipitals, which other cobras do not have.
it is the only snake in the world that builds a real nest, piling up leaves and branches for its eggs.
it hunts during the day, while almost all other land snakes are active at dusk or during the night.
it always swallows its prey head first, so the scales do not stick up and damage its digestive tract.
its prey defends itself by remaining still, with its head tucked under its coils where the snake cannot bite it.
it can chase an intruder while keeping the front part of its body raised, without ever lowering its head.
it ranges up to 6,500 feet in elevation and also frequents sewers, irrigation canals, and human gardens.
in some villages in Myanmar, people practice cobra kissing, a ritual that causes many dangerous accidents.

Five questions about this animal. Pick an answer and find out if it is the right one.

Question 1 of 5

What does the name of its genus, Ophiophagus, mean?

Question 2 of 5

What makes its bite so dangerous?

Question 3 of 5

What does the female do that is unique among all snakes?

Question 4 of 5

When does it hunt?

Question 5 of 5

How long does it live on average?

Experiment 1

Fill a kitchen syringe with seven milliliters of water: this is the amount of venom this snake can inject in a single bite.

Experiment 2

Mark ten feet on the floor with tape and walk beside it: this is the length of the very largest individuals.

Experiment 3

Measure three feet from the floor up a wall with a pencil: this is how high this snake raises its head when threatened.