Is king cobra a mammal or reptile?
King cobras are venomous snakes that live in South and Southeast Asia. The reptile makes its home in forests and swamps. It can grow up to 18 feet long.
What kind of animals is a cobra?
Cobra, any of various species of highly venomous snakes, most of which expand the neck ribs to form a hood. While the hood is characteristic of cobras, not all of them are closely related. Cobras are found from southern Africa through southern Asia to islands of Southeast Asia.
Do king cobras lay eggs?
King cobras are oviparous and lay 21 to 40 white, leathery eggs.
Is the king cobra the same as a Cobra?
It’s important to note that while the King Cobra’s (Ophiophagus Hannah) colloquial name contains the word “cobra”, the King Cobra is its own species and not a cobra. In addition they are the only species of snake that builds a nest for its eggs and guards it, displaying a (seemingly) maternal instinct.
Where do king cobras live in the world?
King cobras are venomous snakes that live in South and Southeast Asia. The reptile makes its home in forests and swamps. It can grow up to 18 feet long. And the animal’s toxic bite is powerful enough to kill an elephant. Cobras eat small mammals, lizards, and birds.
What kind of prey does a king cobra eat?
King cobras are carnivores eating birds, lizards, and other snakes. When those are scarce, these snakes will eat small rodents. If a king cobra eats a large amount of prey at one time, it may not eat again for a few months. This snake has excellent eyesight.
How big does a king cobra snake get?
What kind of snakes does a king cobra eat?
The king cobra normally restricts its diet to cold-blooded animals, particularly other snakes. Some specimens develop a rigid diet of a single species of snake and will refuse any other type.
How did the king cobra get its name?
The king cobra’s generic name, Ophiophagus is a Greek-derived word that means “snake-eater”. Its diet consists primarily of other snakes, including rat snakes, pythons, and even other venomous snakes such as various members of the true cobras and the krait.
Why are king cobras considered to be royalty?
King cobras are considered royalty because they’re the big, boss snake. They quite literally eat other snakes for breakfast. The same goes for California kingsnakes, which eat other snakes too. That’s why their scientific name is O phiophagus Hannah. Ophiophagus comes straight from Greek and means snake-eater.
How big is the biggest King Cobra in the world?
No wonder the king cobra is known as the longest venomous snake in the world. The king cobra weighs between 11 and 20lbs. A 20lb king cobra is equal in weight to two gallons of paint. The heaviest king cobra lived in the New York Zoological Park and weighed just under 28lbs.
