King cobra | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Elapidae |
Subfamily: | Elapinae |
Genus: | Ophiophagus Günther, 1864 |
Species: | O. hannah
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Binomial name | |
Ophiophagus hannah Cantor, 1836
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Distribution of the king cobra
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Synonyms | |
Genus-level:
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The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is in the Elapidae family of snakes. It is the longest venomous snake in the world. An adult king cobra can grow up to 18 feet (5.5 m), though most are less than 12 ft (3.7 m).[2][3] It is endemic to Asia.
King cobras are the longest of all venomous snakes. As they face a variety of threats stemming from human activities, these snakes are vulnerable to extinction.
The king cobra lives throughout India and in some parts of the south and the east of Asia. It is known around the world for its dangerous venom. It mostly avoids humans.[4] The King cobra lives up to 20 years.[5]
The king cobra lives in thick forests,[3][6] and likes areas dotted with lakes and streams.
It eats mostly other snakes but sometimes lizards and rodents.[7][8] After a large meal it may live months before eating again.[3]
The Indian grey mongoose is one of the few predators of the king cobra but may not attack them much.[9]
They are fiercely aggressive when cornered; average life span in the wild: 20 years
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: CS1 maint: numeric names: editors list (link)