Animal Planet :: King Cobra and I

February 21, 2012

Cobra Fact File

	King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) Relatively Speaking The king cobra belongs to the family Elapidae, which includes cobras, kraits and coral snakes — all highly venomous species that share the common trait of relatively short, fixed fangs. Once classified as a cobra (genus Naja), the king cobra was eventually moved to its own genus, Ophiophagus. The name "king cobra" is therefore a bit of a misnomer, as it's not a true cobra. Ophiophagus combines the Latin words for snake ("ophio") and eater ("phagus") — an accurate description of its habits. It is sometimes called the hamadryad, a Greek name for "wood nymph." The snake was first scientifically described by a British naturalist named Dr. Thomas Edward Cantor in 1836. «« back to main The King's Dominion The king cobra ranges far and wide throughout tropical Asia. It's found in India, southern China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, where it reaches record lengths. It prefers habitats with dense undergrowth and heavy rainfall, such as rain forests and mangrove swamps. In southern India, where herpetologist Romulus Whitaker has set up the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station and plans to establish the world's first king cobra sanctuary, it inhabits the endangered montane rain forests of the Western Ghats. «« back to main Uncanny Intelligence The king cobra possesses a rare intelligence that scientists are only beginning to understand. Some snake experts have experienced a type of communication with the king cobra that is quite unlike any other snake species they've encountered. It has an awareness and alertness far beyond most other snakes; for instance, the male is very conscious of its territory and will chase other males away. In captivity, the king cobra is able to distinguish its caregiver from strangers, and is said to be a faster learner than other snakes. The fact that it builds a nest — the only snake to do this — is another indication of its intelligence, according to experts. «« back to main

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