2. The king cobra is the largest poisonous
snake in the world. It can grow to a
length of almost 18 feet long! The king
cobra is longer than most crocodiles.
3. Its head can be as large
as a man’s hand! Its
venom is powerful
enough to kill an
elephant or 20 people.
When the king cobra is
scared, it spreads the
loose skin on its neck
into a “hood”. The king’s
hood plays a big part in
its fearsome “threat
posture”. It is made by
spreading the ribs in its
neck.
4. The king cobra can
raise its body off the
ground making them
stand up to six feet
tall, as tall as a full-
grown human.
Raised off the
ground, a hooded
cobra is a scary
sight.
5. The king cobra’s
eyesight is better than
most snakes’. It can see
a moving person
almost 330 feet away!
6. The king cobra can be found in South and
Southeast Asian countries such as India,
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China and the
Philippines. King cobras are usually found in
tropical rainforests, bamboo forests and
swamps. They are excellent swimmers. They
can also climb trees.
7. King cobras do not eat rodents like most snakes.
Instead, they eat other snakes and lizards. King cobras
hunt for their food by smelling the air with their forked
tongue. When they find prey, they raise up to 1/3 their
body length off the ground and strike. If their prey
escapes, they are able to chase it in this upright
position for long distances. When they catch their prey,
muscles send the venom from the glands, through the
fangs, and into the victim. The venom paralyzes the
prey so it cannot move.
8. The king cobra’s
deadly fangs are
almost half an inch
long. The prey is
swallowed whole.
The fangs help
push the king
cobra’s prey into the
stomach. After
swallowing a large
meal, the king
cobra can go
without food again
for months.
9. The female king cobra lays 20-50 white eggs. The
eggs are laid in a nest. King cobras are the only
snakes known to make a nest. After 60-70 days,
the eggs hatch. Just before the babies hatch the
mother leaves them! The babies are black with
yellow rings. The babies are 14 inches long.
The baby cobras have fangs and venom. They can
attack an enemy as they are hatching from their
shells!
10. Part of the king cobra’s forest habitat is disappearing.
In eastern Asia, the king cobra is also killed to use in
making medicine and to eat. People are afraid of the
king cobra and it is usually killed wherever it is found.
But, in some parts of southeast Asia and India, the
king cobra is worshipped at religious ceremonies.
The king cobra is not yet an endangered species.
11. We think the king
cobra is the strongest
animal in the world
because it can be 18
feet tall and its venom
can kill an elephant.
The king cobra should
not be bothered or
else it will attack you.
12. We would like to
thank our 5th
grade partners:
Gilmarie, Hector
and Chris
