Animals On Earth: India, Asia, China, Hawaii, And Madagascar

King Cobra

King cobras are impressively venomous, large snakes native to Asia. They are called king cobras because they can kill and eat cobras.

King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) has a significant place in many cultures, and is a medically important venomous snake in the world. Envenomation by this snake is highly lethal, manifested mainly by neurotoxicity and local tissue damage.

King cobras are the longest of all venomous snakes. As they face a variety of threats stemming from human activities, these snakes are vulnerable to extinction.

The king cobra's diet consists largely of cold-blooded animals, particularly other snakes. Unlike other snake species, king cobras rarely hunt vertebrates like rodents and lizards. A king cobra may develop a rigid diet of a single snake species and may refuse any other snake species.

The snake's most famous predators are mongooses. These furry little animals are naturally resistant or immune to snake venom. They are quick enough to dart in and bite the back of the cobra's neck before the snake can defend itself.