The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world's longest venomous snake, growing to a length of 5.7 m (18.5 ft) and a weight of up to 9 kg (20 lbs). This species is quite widespread, ranging throughout south-eastern Asia and into India. In India, it is mainly found near the foothills of the Himalayas. Its genus name, Ophiophagus, literally means "snake-eater", and its diet primarily consists of other snakes, including sizeable pythons and even smaller members of its own species. The venom of the King Cobra is primarily neurotoxic, and the snake is fully capable of killing a human with a single bite. A single bite from a King Cobra can deliver enough venom to kill a full-grown Asian Elephant within 3 hours if the larger animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk.
The skin is either olive-green, tan, or black and it has faint, pale yellow cross bands down the length of the body. The underbelly is cream or pale yellow, and the scales are smooth. The head of mature snake can be quite massive and bulky in appearance, though like all snakes, they can expand their jaws to swallow large prey items. It has two short, fixed fangs in the front of the mouth which channel venom into the prey like hypodermic needles. The male is larger and thicker than the female.
Widespread, but not common, across South and South-east Asia, It lives in dense highlands forest. The snake has a preference for living in areas dotted with lakes and streams. King Cobra populations have dropped in some areas of its range due to the destruction of forests, but despite this the snake is not listed by the IUCN as in danger of becoming extinct.
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