25 King Cobra Facts For Kids

1. The King Cobra is one of the 270 types of Cobras. Cobras are easily distinguished from other snakes because of the hood that flairs around its neck. This hood is actually a “scare” tactic that the Cobra uses to scare its prey.

2. The King Cobra is a venomous snake as a matter of fact it is the largest venomous snake in the world. It can grow up to 18 feet in length. It is one of the most feared snakes in the world as well because it is an aggressive snake.

3. Most snakes will do their best to avoid human contact but the King Cobra will not avoid human contact as a matter of fact it will strike in some cases unprovoked. The King Cobra is a highly venomous snake. It is not the most venomous snake but it is very dangerous because the amount of venom that it delivers with is bite.

4. There is some speculation that the King Cobra is not as fierce as some scientist believe because the number of snake bites reported relative to the King Cobra each year are not as high as one would expect if the snake was as adamant about random attacks as supposed.

5. It is said that a King Cobra releases enough venom when it strikes to take down an elephant. A bite from a King Cobra can contain enough venom to kill a man within 30 minutes. It releases high doses of venom that can range (depending on the snakes age and the placement of the bite) from 200-500mg.

6. The venom is a neuron toxin that works rapidly to render the victim paralyzed. In humans it can rapidly cause fatality. It can cause renal failure, shock and heart failure. It is imperative that antivenom is given immediately. Even with quick action and a high dose of antivenom there is no guarantees. Fatalities have been recorded at all stages of injection.

7. This snake is a rather offensive snake to look at. When it feels threatened it raises up and opens its hood which flares out on either side of its neck making its head appear to double in size and it lets out a very loud hiss that sounds almost like a growl before it strikes.

8. All snakes are cold blooded animals that can not adjust their body heat internally. They depend on the sun to warm them up. They have to reach a certain body temperature before they can hunt and move about efficiently.

9. They need the heat of the sun to be able to digest their food as well. It is not unusual to come across a docile snake in the early morning hours basking on a rock or across the ground trying to absorb enough heat to get their day started.

10. King Cobras are native to India. They can live in trees, abandoned burrows from other animals, under rocks or in the brush. They are very adaptable animals and do not require a regular home unless they are nesting than they will stay put.

11. Typically they like the heat and of course a place to hunt but they are not limited by much because they are adaptable and do not require any specific shelter to live in or under. King Cobras can live up in trees as easily as they can live under a rock. They travel wide ranges and do not really pay attention to territory or other King Cobras unless they are smaller and can be a potential meal.

12. Another reason that people feel especially queasy about the King Cobra is its diet. It eats mainly other snakes. This is a pretty amazing fact when you consider that snakes are relatively quick and hard to catch. They will also eat lizards if the opportunity presents itself.

13. A snake that eats other snakes as their primary source of nutrition has to be a pretty vicious snake. They are very quick snakes as well so that helps them quickly catch their prey.

14. When it is confronted the King Cobra will quickly retaliate by “standing up” with one third of is body straight up to strike. Once a King Cobra is in striking mode it is very hard to convince it not to strike so it is good advice to get out of the way.

15. The King Cobra hunts using its finely tuned senses. Like other snakes King Cobras use their tongues to feel out prey. They also use vibrations in the ground and their keen eye sight to find prey. They can see up to 350 feet away. They also can “listen” with their bodies and detect where prey is hiding from the vibrations they are sending out.

16. King Cobra’s have the ability to catch their prey and constrict them to death but usually they do not. They strike, inject their venom than swallow their prey whole. They can eat, depending on their size up to three times a week.

17. Their favorite food is rat snake which is unfortunate for communities that have a population of rat snake because it brings the King Cobra close to human inhabitants and obviously puts them in danger.

18. King Cobras like other snakes and reptiles can not grow unless they shed their skin. The skin does not stretch to allow for growth because it is not skin but instead is scales that has to be shed so that the snake can grow.

19. The snake grows inside the skin and than will rub up against rocks, bark and the ground to slither out of the old skin that no longer fits it.

20. King Cobras are unusual parents. The female will build her nest and deposit up to 40 eggs in he nest than stay with the eggs until they hatch. She will viciously guard her nest to insure that her eggs are safe. She stays with them through the incubation period than leaves when the last egg hatches so that she is not tempted to eat her young.

21. It is highly unusual behavior in the world of snakes. Typically the mother lays her eggs and leaves them but the King Cobra sticks around and no one really knows why other than speculation that their drive to survive as a species is very high. King Cobra babies may be colorful but the color will fade over time. They are born with as much venom as an adult and can be twice as deadly because of it. Babies or young snakes tend to be more likely to strike!

22. The King Cobra is a snake built on legend which in large part comes from humans that used the King Cobra in snake charming shows. The King Cobra is native to India and at one time snake charming was a big attraction for both locals and for tourists.

23. The snake charmer would show up at shows and festivals with their trained snakes in a basket, sack or box and prepare to wow observers with their abilities.

24. The would use an Indian flute like instrument to charm the snake but of course there was more to the charming than meets the eye. Of course the more dangerous people believed the snake was the more thrilling the show.

25. Like most snakes King Cobras are not out to bite humans but if provoked they will bite with deadly results sometimes.