OLogy Cards > king cobra

king cobra

The king cobra is the largest venomous snake in the world. Whether slithering on land, climbing trees, or swimming, it's an effective predator. When threatened or on attack, the king cobra rears its head and creates a hood by spreading its neck ribs. Its sharp fangs are used to bite and inject venom into prey. Its bite carries enough poison to kill an elephant.

Stats

Stumper

The king cobra is the only snake to:

lay eggs

shed its skin

build a nest for its young

Correct!

Like most snakes, king cobras lay eggs and shed their skin several times a year. But king cobras are the only snakes to build nests for their young.

Stumper

For centuries, king cobras have been used by flute-playing snake charmers because:

they are easily hypnotized

they sway to the sound of the music

they follow the charmer's movements

Correct!

King cobras are used by snake charmers because they respond to the charmer's movements. Cobras can't even hear the music because, like all snakes, they're deaf.

Fact or Fiction

Like all snakes, the king cobra is venomous.

Fact

Fiction

The king cobra may be venomous -- however, most snakes are not. Most are constrictors, which means that they kill their prey by squeezing an animal until it can't breathe.

Fact or Fiction

The king cobra eats snakes and other small animals, as long as they're smaller than its head.

Fact

Fiction

The king cobra can open its jaw wide enough to swallow prey bigger than its head. As do all snakes, it swallows its prey whole.

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Correct!

Correct!

Fiction

Fiction

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Meet the OLogist: Robert Voss