King Cobra

A king cobra the length of a stretch limo slides through a field. Looking for food, it raises its head and flicks its tongue. Suddenly, a rat scampers past. The snake takes off after the rodent. As it nears its prey, the cobra strikes: It sinks its venom-filled fangs into the rat to knock it out, then swallows the snack in one gulp.

 

COMMON NAME: King cobras
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ophiophagus hannah
TYPE: Reptiles
DIET: Carnivore
GROUP NAME: Quiver
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 20 years
SIZE: 13 feet
WEIGHT: Up to 20 pounds
 

LARGE AND (MOSTLY) IN CHARGE

King cobras are venomous snakes that live in South and Southeast Asia. The reptile makes its home in forests and swamps. It can grow up to 18 feet long. And the animal's toxic bite is powerful enough to kill an elephant.

Cobras eat small mammals, lizards, and birds. They can also end up on the dinner menu—the snake is a favorite meal of the mongoose, a kind of mammal.

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