King Cobra - National Geographic Kids

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Skip to contentSearchShopNational Geographic Kids Logo - HomeGamesQuizzesPersonality QuizzesPuzzlesActionFunny Fill-InVideosAmazing AnimalsWeird But True!Party AnimalsTry This!AnimalsMammalsBirdsPrehistoricReptilesAmphibiansInvertebratesFishExplore MoreMagazinehistoryScienceSpaceU.S. StatesWeird But True!SubscribemenuA king cobra's hood makes the snake appear larger than it is.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.King cobras can lift up to one-third of their bodies from the ground and still move forward.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.A king cobra at the Houston Zoo.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.1 / 41 / 4A king cobra's hood makes the snake appear larger than it is.A king cobra's hood makes the snake appear larger than it is.Photograph by Parthkumar Bhatt, Dreamstime
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Common Name: King cobrasScientific Name: OphiophagusType: ReptilesDiet: CarnivoreGroup Name: QuiverAverage Life Span In The Wild: 20 yearsSize: 13 feetWeight: Up to 20 pounds

LARGE AND (MOSTLY) IN CHARGE

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. They can also end up on the dinner menu—the snake is a favorite meal of the mongoose, a kind of mammal.

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NEST FEST

When facing predators, king cobras try to act like tough guys. They often expand ribs and muscles on both sides of their necks to create what’s called a hood. The hood makes the snake appear extra-big.

While cobras can become aggressive when hungry or threatened, they know how to make their families feel at home. These are the only snakes that build nests for their eggs. How ssssweet!

1:46King cobras never stop growing and shed their skin around 5 times a year! Learn more amazing facts about these amazing creatures in this video from National Geographic Kids.

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