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| A gorgeous King Cobra photographed by Michael Allen Smith |
King Cobras are the largest venomous snakes on Earth. They are recognizable for the telltale hood that spreads out behind their heads when threatened. They can be found in the forests and grasslands of Southern Asia.
An average adult King Cobra is about 12 feet long and weighs around 13 pounds. Larger specimens have been recorded, but they are rare. King Cobras can be tan, olive green or black. They have yellow bands that appear on the entire length of their bodies. The underside of these snakes is a light, yellowish color. The King Cobra’s most distinguishing feature is its hood. The hood is actually a set of ribs that can be stretched out giving the animal its formidable appearance.
King Cobras subsist mainly on other snakes. When pressed for food they will eat lizards, rodents and birds. Like all other snakes, King Cobras have hinged jaws and eat their prey by swallowing it whole. They hunt for their food by using a snake’s unique sense of smell and by interpreting vibrations. These snakes can go for months at a time without eating.
Female King Cobras lay clutches of 20-40 eggs in nests of leaves. These eggs incubate for roughly three months. The mother abandons the nest as soon as her young start hatching. She instinctively does this so that she will not eat her babies.
Adult King Cobras shed up to five times a year. Adolescents shed once a month. These snakes are able swimmers and can readily climb trees. They have an average lifespan of 20 years.
King Cobras are extremely dangerous. One bite is sufficient to kill an adult elephant if administered in the right spot. The generally accepted mortality rate for these bites is 75%–not good odds. The venom of a King Cobra is neurotoxic, meaning that it attacks the central nervous system. This venom is less potent than that of some other snake species. However, because of the King Cobra’s size it can produce more venom per bite, so it is no less deadly.
Victims of the King Cobras bite will experience a myriad of symptoms. These may include blurry vision, severe pain, cardiovascular complications and vertigo. There are many other possible symptoms as the symptoms may be different for some individuals and symptoms like necrosis may appear if the victim survives long enough. Respiratory failure is usually the cause of death for individuals who have been bitten by a King Cobra.
King Cobras are magnificent creatures, but they are extremely deadly. People traveling in Southern Asia should be aware of these snakes and their habits. As antivenin for their bites is not always readily available, the best defense against them is avoidance.
Sources
King Cobra, retrieved 5/18/09, reference.com/browse/king+cobra&fromAsk=true
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