King cobras live in Southeast Asia. They are active during the day. They often stay near streams, where the air stays wet and steady.
A king cobra is usually about 10 to 12 feet long. Some reach 18 feet. It weighs up to about 20 pounds.
A young king cobra is jet black with yellow or white bands. A full-grown one is yellow, green, brown or black.
A king cobra can spread a hood on its neck. The hood makes the snake look bigger.
It can raise the front of its body upright. That lets it see over bushes and tall grass. It has better eyesight than most snakes.
A king cobra's hiss is lower than most snakes' hisses. It sounds more like a dog's growl.
King cobras mostly eat other snakes. At zoos, they eat rodents such as mice and rats.
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. The eggs sit in the nest through spring and summer. They hatch in the fall.
The mother stays on top of her nest. She guards the eggs.
Words to know
- hood: neck flap
- upright: straight up
- rodents: mice and rats
- hatch: come out
