King cobra | |
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Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Unrecognized taxon (fix): | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Elapidae |
Subfamily: | Elapinae |
Genus: | Ophiophagus Günther, 1864 |
Species: | O. hannah |
Binomial name | |
Ophiophagus hannah Cantor, 1836 | |
Distribution of the king cobra | |
Synonyms | |
Genus-level:
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The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is in the Elapidae family of snakes. It is the longest venomous snake in the world. An adult king cobra can grow up to 18 feet (5.5 m), though most are less than 12 ft (3.7 m). It is endemic to Asia.
The king cobra lives throughout India and in some parts of the south and the east of Asia. It is known around the world for its dangerous venom. It mostly avoids humans. The King cobra lives up to 20 years.