How a Snake That Eats Cobras Redefined the Meaning of ‘King’

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Quick Take

• The king cobra holds the record as the longest venomous snake, at 18.7 feet long.

• As apex predators, they prey on other snakes, shaping local ecosystems and venomous-snake populations.

• Despite the hood, king cobras belong to Ophiophagus and are genetically closer to mambas than to true Naja cobras.

• Read on to discover the contested 19.2 feet claim and why it remains unverified.

King cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) are endemic to the forests and swamps of Asia, with a range that spans from the Indian subcontinent throughout Southeast Asia to southern China. They are green, yellow, brown, or black with pale yellow bands or chevrons on their hoods. These snakes are widely regarded as the longest venomous snakes on Earth. So, how large do these snakes actually get? Keep reading to discover the largest king cobra in the world.

King Cobras Are Not Really Cobras

True cobras belong to the genus Naja. They are primarily found in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Cobras are venomous snakes characterized by their ability to flatten the ribs of their necks into their iconic, intimidating hoods.

King cobras belong to the genus Ophiophagus. Ophiophagus means “snake eating,” referring to the king cobra’s diet of other snakes — specifically other cobras. Genetic studies have concluded that king cobras are closer to mambas than cobras, but king cobras share true cobras’ ability to flare their hoods when threatened.

A Shy but Deadly Snake

King cobras are part of the Elapidae family, a group of venomous snakes with fixed, forward-positioned fangs. They have 0.5-inch fangs that can inject as much as 1 gram (dry weight) of venom. This is nearly 10 times the maximum venom load of the most venomous snake on Earth, the inland taipan, which can inject 110mg. King cobras are believed to inject this much venom in order to subdue other large, venomous snakes.

However, king cobras are not particularly aggressive and would rather escape than confront humans. When threatened, the snake will lift its body 3-4 feet off the ground to appear more intimidating. As mentioned above, they also flatten and spread their neck ribs to form the characteristic hood. King cobras also make a low-pitched growling sound to warn predators before striking. Their venom is a valuable resource that is typically used only as a last resort. King cobras require venom to paralyze their prey and aid in digestion, and it can take time to replenish depending on how much was expelled.

The Largest King Cobra on Record

King cobras are long, heavy snakes, weighing from 13 to 26 pounds. These snakes typically grow to between 10 to 12 feet in length, but they have been documented to reach much greater lengths. The longest king cobra in the world reached an incredible 18.7 feet in length. According to Guinness World Records, the snake was captured near Port Dickson in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia in 1937. It was later sent to the London Zoo, where it was displayed until the outbreak of World War II.

Other records suggest there may be another contender for the title of largest king cobra in the world. C.J. Aagaard is credited with reporting a snake with a measurement of 19.2 feet in a 1924 publication, “Cobras and King Cobras.” However, the original publication lists a length of 18.3 feet. Despite several scientific studies reporting a length of 19.2 feet, this figure cannot be traced to a verifiable source and has not been scientifically confirmed.

The post How a Snake That Eats Cobras Redefined the Meaning of ‘King’ appeared first on A-Z Animals.