Cobra fact file

They are also facing the loss of their habitat. Learn more about them by reading on below. The king cobra is the longest of all the venomous snakes. They can achieve a length of 5. They generally weigh 6kg 13lbs. The male cobra is larger and thicker than the females. Their body diameter is 12cm 4. Across the head are folds of skin which can be flattened out to form a hood on either side of the head.

This is achieved through muscles and the ribs. The king cobra is colored green, yellow, black or brown. Across the back is yellow bands and the underside is cream or yellow. A juvenile is jet black. Across their back they have yellow bands. The king cobra is a carnivore.

It lives mainly on a diet of other snakes, venomous and non-venomous. Adults tend to settle on a diet of a single species of snake and refuse other species even if they find them.

They may consume species up to 3m 10ft in length. Occasionally they will take some birds or small mammals. If these foods are scarce they will also take rodents. If they eat a large meal the king cobra does not need to eat for many more months. The king cobra hails from Asia. King cobras inhabit highland forests which are covered in dense bush, bamboo thickets, mangrove swamps and rainforests.

They are also known to occur in cultivated areas. They prefer spaces which have lakes or streams close by. King cobras will breed between January and April. To find a mate the male will follow chemical signals that the female emits. When he finds one he will rub alongside her until she becomes receptive to mating.

After mating the female will build a nest. They are one of the only snakes which have been observed to do this. This nest is a mound constructed of twigs and leaves. The female will deposit up to 50 eggs into the nest. Inside the nest the sticks and leaves break down producing heat. King cobras are believed to be the only snake which will build a nest. Cobras are typically opportunistic hunters, chowing down on whatever prey comes their way. Often, they eat birds, small mammals, lizards, eggs, carrion and other snakes.

They slither through the wilderness silently, following their prey until they are ready to attack. According to the San Diego Zoo, most cobras hunt at dawn or dusk, though some species forage during the heat of the day. Like other snakes, cobras have a very slow metabolism that allows them to go for days or even months without feeding. Fortunately, antivenin is available and sometimes lives can also be saved with the use of an artificial respirator.

Symptoms from a neurotoxic cobra bite can include problems with vision, difficulty swallowing and speaking, skeletal muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, respiratory failure, vomiting, abdominal pain, necrosis, and anticoagulation. According to the University of Michigan , human victims may stop breathing just 30 minutes after being bitten by a cobra.

Some cobras, including all spitting cobras, have cytotoxic venom that attacks body tissue and causes severe pain, swelling and possible necrosis death of cells and tissue. According to the American Museum of Natural History , spitting cobras also have the ability to shoot venom from their fangs directly into the eyes of the victim with terrifying accuracy. Venom in the eyes can lead to blindness if not washed out well. The king cobra is an example of a snake with "cobra" in its name, but it is not a member of the Naja genus.

The king cobra Ophiophagus hannah is the only member of its genus. Though they can reach lengths of up to 18 feet, Viernum said, their average length is 10 to 13 feet.

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