The combination of immense body size and plentiful potent venom makes the king cobra a formidable hunter and helps it defend itself when threatened. Heavy and muscular, it can kill other snakes with its powerful venom; it uses its menacing hood to warn off other animals.

Habitat
The king cobra is found mainly in southeast Asia, where it frequents clearings, bamboo thickets and the borders of undisturbed forest. In northern India, the cobra inhabits dense highland forests, up into the foothills of the Himalayas. Although it can climb trees with ease, the cobra rarely does so unless pursuing prey.

Within its natural range, the king cobra is also found on farmland and in the outlying parts of villages and abandoned buildings. As forest is cleared for development, it is increasingly encountered by humans.

Behavior
The king cobra is active by day but is rarely seen by humans. It can move quietly through vegetation and deliberately avoids disturbances. If an intruder startles the cobra, however, it rears its head, spreads its neck to from a menacing hood and sways from side to side, hissing. It can sway for several minutes and, unique among cobras, can also move forward in this position. This is intended to intimidate and repel the intruder without the cobra having to strike. Occasionally, an intruder doesn’t retreat, and if the cobra is provoked or highly alarmed, it may bite to protect itself.

Food and Hunting
The king cobra preys on other snakes and lizards. It will attack venomous snakes, such as kraits or other cobras, and nonvenomous ones, such as small pythons.

The cobra tracks prey by sight and by “tasting” the air with its tongue. It strikes rapidly, sinking fangs into the prey and injecting a massive dose of venom that paralyzes the nervous system. Despite the quantity and potency of the venom, it may take two hours or more to subdue a reptile, whose body circulates the venom at a slow rate. When the cobra bites a warm-blooded animal in defense, such as a water buffalo, the victim succumbs swiftly, because of its higher rate of circulation.

Swallowing the victim whole also takes time. Like other snakes, the cobra can dislocate its jaws and gradually work its meal into its long stomach. It then slips away to digest its meal.

If you’d like to learn more about the king cobra and other members of the animal kingdom, you’ll love Wildlife Explorer, a collection of beautiful foldout cards that bring the wonder and majesty of creatures great and small into your home. Learn more.