As of November 2026, the king cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world. A king cobra is usually about 10 to 12 feet long, and some reach 18 feet. It weighs up to about 20 pounds.
King cobras belong to a family of snakes called Elapidae, which many other venomous snakes share. The king cobra's genus name, Ophiophagus, means snake-eater. King cobras are not particularly aggressive snakes.
A king cobra's fangs are almost half an inch long, about 8 to 10 millimeters. They are fixed to its upper jaw, so they have to be short.
Venom is made in glands joined to the fangs. A small muscle pushes it through the hollow fangs. King cobra venom has neurotoxins, which are poisons that act on the nervous system.
A king cobra can spread a hood on its neck that makes it look bigger. Its hiss is lower than most snakes' hisses. It sounds more like a dog's growl.
King cobras live in Southeast Asia. They are active during the day. They often stay near streams, where the temperature and the wet air stay steady.
King cobras eat other snakes. They eat snakes such as Asian rat snakes and pythons up to about 10 feet long. Some king cobras prefer one kind of snake and refuse to eat any other.
A king cobra lives about 20 years in the wild. The IUCN Red List lists the king cobra as Vulnerable, as of November 2026.
The king cobra is the only snake that builds a nest for its eggs. The mother uses her body to pull leaves and plants into a pile. A female lays about 21 to 40 eggs, and she stays on top of her nest to guard them. The eggs sit in the nest through spring and summer and hatch in the fall.
Words to know
- venom: snake poison
- fangs: long teeth
- neurotoxins: nerve poisons
- Vulnerable: at risk
- hood: neck flap
The short version
The king cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world, as of November 2026. It is usually about 10 to 12 feet long and lives in Southeast Asia. It mostly eats other snakes and is the only snake that builds a nest for its eggs. The female stays on top of the nest to guard the eggs.
Quick facts
- King cobras live in Southeast Asia and are active during the day.
- A king cobra is usually about 10 to 12 feet long, and some reach 18 feet.
- King cobras mostly eat other snakes.
- The king cobra is the only snake that builds a nest for its eggs.
- The IUCN Red List lists the king cobra as Vulnerable, as of November 2026.
What does a king cobra eat?
King cobras mostly eat other snakes, such as Asian rat snakes and pythons up to about 10 feet long. Some king cobras prefer one kind of snake and refuse to eat any other.
Does a king cobra build a nest?
Yes. The king cobra is the only snake that builds a nest for its eggs. The mother uses her body to pull leaves and plants into a pile, and a female lays about 21 to 40 eggs.
