 Description
The king cobra’s average size is 10 to 12 feet, but it can reach 18 feet
in length when adult. They are usually yellow, green, brown or black,
and there are also yellow or white crosses on it’s body. The stomach is
sometimes decorated with crossbars. The throat is typically light yellow
or white. The king cobra is an aggressive snake and its length and size
make it look amazing.
Habitat
They usually live near streams and in forests. They can also be found
in swamps.
Reproduction
The king cobra female will usually lay 21 to 40 eggs. She will push
twigs, branches and leaves into a pile to lay her eggs in. She will sit
on the eggs to guard them. The male will also be close by during the
brooding period. The male will extremely aggressive towards humans. They
usually breed from January to April and the eggs are incubated from
spring to summer, hatching between summer and autumn.
Behaviour
King cobras are diurnal -they are active during the day, (while other
cobras are nocturnal). Although it is a very dangerous snake, it prefers
to escape unless cornered or provoked, except if it is a nesting female.
When it is displaying a threat it can raise the front part of its body
off the ground and can follow its enemy like this.
Food habits
The king cobra normally eats cold blooded animals, especially other
snakes. The snakes eaten by the king cobra are mostly the larger
harmless species like rat snakes, and pythons up to 10 feet in length.
The king cobra’s venom is very deadly. It is a neurotoxin and causes
respiratory failure in the medulla of the brain. It also causes cardiac
arrest. The speed of death may depend on where the bite is and the
efficiency of the medical attention. Antivenom is the most commonly used
remedy for snake bites. |
