Cobra Facts

• King Cobras are just one type of cobra. Overall, there are hundreds of different types.

• King Cobras are the only snake in the world that build a nest for their young, just like a bird, but on the ground!

• King Cobras lay 20-40 eggs in a nest, which is faithfully guarded by female her mate. The incubation time is 60-90 days.

• King Cobra young are called hatchlings since they come from eggs. Hatchlings are about 50cm long.

• King Cobras (Ohiophagus hannah) eats other snakes! The Latin word for "snake-eater" is ophiophagus.

• Cobras are the only snake in the world that can spit their venom, and they are accurate up to about half their own length!

• King Cobras are the longest venomous snake in the world! The average male grows 18 feet long, and some have been known to grow more than 20 feet long.

• Cobras are not blind, in fact they see very well even at night.

• Cobras have a "Jacobsen's Organ" (like most snakes) that gives it super smelling ability. They can sense tiny changes in temperature, which helps them track their prey at night.

• Cobras typically live to 20 years old or more in the wild.

• Cobras are at the top of the food chain. Their only natural predators are the mongoose, and man.

• Cobras venom is not the strongest there is, but cobras can inject so much venom in a single bite that they can kill an elephant. Sea snakes have deadlier venom, and rattlesnakes have weaker venom.