King cobras eat mostly other snakes. Their scientific name, Ophiophagus hannah, means “snake eater” in Greek, and snakes make up the bulk of their diet.
What King Cobras Eat
- Other snakes: rat snakes, smaller cobras, kraits, and even young pythons. They will eat both venomous and non-venomous species.
- Lizards: monitor lizards are an occasional meal.
- Other animals: in lean times they may take rodents, birds or eggs, but this is uncommon.
Young king cobras start out eating small snakes and lizards. Adults prefer prey that is long and thin, since they swallow food whole, headfirst.
How They Hunt
King cobras track prey partly by scent, flicking their tongues to pick up chemical trails. They usually hunt in the daytime. After a quick, venomous bite, they hold on while the venom works, then swallow the prey whole. Their jaws are loosely joined, so they can take a meal much wider than their head.
How Often Do They Eat?
A big meal can last a king cobra weeks or even months. In the wild, they eat when prey is available. They are not pets: they are among the longest venomous snakes in the world, reaching about 18 feet (5.5 meters), and keeping them is illegal or tightly regulated in most places.
Where They Live
King cobras live in forests, bamboo thickets and mangroves across India and Southeast Asia, often near streams. They are not found in Australia. The female is the only snake known to build a nest, which she guards until the eggs hatch.
Are They Dangerous?
King cobras can deliver a large amount of venom, and their bite is a medical emergency. They normally try to avoid people, but a threatened king cobra can raise a third of its body off the ground and flare its hood. If someone is bitten, call emergency services right away.
Bottom Line
King cobras are snake specialists. They hunt other snakes, swallow them whole, and can then go a long time between meals. Keep your distance and leave wild snakes alone.
Related reading: what tiger snakes eat, what viper snakes eat and whether jaguars eat snakes.
