King cobra

Meet king cobra—one more extraordinary life to discover.

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A CLOSER LOOK

A reference overview

The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is a species complex of snakes endemic to Asia. With an average length of 3.18 to 4 m (10.4 to 13.1 ft) and a record length of 5.85 m (19.2 ft), it is the world's longest venomous snake and among the heaviest. Under the genus Ophiophagus, it is not phylogenetically a true cobra despite its common name and some resemblance.

Overview excerpt from Wikipedia contributors · King cobra, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Excerpt may be shortened. Overview retrieved 2026-10-09.

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The evidence behind this discovery

Source-linked

This overview is attributed to Wikipedia contributors and was retrieved on 2026-10-09. Retrieval is not independent scientific review.

Reference media

The picture has a linked creator and license. Extinct-animal images may show a fossil, specimen or reconstruction; a reconstruction is not a photograph of the living animal.

Scope and uncertainty

Map points represent selected regions, not complete ranges or live sightings. References and identifications can change. A linked source is not an expert certification.

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King cobra

A reference overview

The evidence behind this discovery

Where will this discovery take you?

Komodo dragon ↗

What can a picture tell you? ↗

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