Kraits Cobras Sea Snakes and Relatives: Elapidae

Physical characteristics: The king cobras are snakes of many colors; they may be black, brown, brownish-green, or yellow. These large snakes usually reach about 9.8 feet (3 meters) in length, but they can grow to 16.4 feet (5 meters).

Geographic range: The king cobra lives from India through Southeast Asia (the Philippines and into Indonesia).

Habitat: King cobras are animals of the thick jungle and usually prefer to live near water.

Diet: Their main food items are other snakes, including other venomous species.

King cobras are snakes of many colors; they may be black, brown, brownish-green, or yellow. (Joe McDonald/Bruce Coleman Inc. Reproduced by permission.)

Behavior and reproduction: Unlike most other members of this family, male and female king cobras will form pairs, make a nest from leaves and dirt in a growth of bamboo, and protect the nest and, later, the eggs from attackers. Once the eggs hatch, the parents leave the nest site, and the young must live on their own immediately.

King cobras and people: When a king cobra bites a person, it can inject a dose of venom that can kill.

Conservation status: The king cobra is not endangered or threatened. ∎