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King Cobra and I
Cobra Fact File
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King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
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Packing Poison
    Though not as potent as its relatives, the king cobra's venom is still deadly. What it lacks in potency the king cobra makes up in quantity, delivering more than a teaspoon of venom in a single strike. One dose contains enough toxin to kill an Asian elephant or between 20 and 40 humans. The venom acts quickly to destroy the victim's nervous system, shutting down both the heart and lungs in a matter of minutes. The venom contains another toxin that begins digesting the prey before it even reaches the king cobra's belly. King cobra venom is used to treat tuberculosis and cholera in India, and has been developed into two pain relievers, Cobroxin and Nyloxin, in the United States.

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A Growling Moan
    While most snakes hiss, the king cobra lets out a growling moan. This lets intruders or potential predators know that the snake is perturbed and ready to strike. To make the sound, the king cobra fills its lungs with air, then quickly constricts its body. This forces the air through the glottis, the space between the vocal cords, resulting in a long moan, which some say resembles a dog's growl. A special resonating chamber in the snake's tracheal lung may give the sound its characteristic low pitch, which is unique among snakes. (The tracheal lung is an enlarged throat that wraps around the windpipe, allowing the king cobra to breathe while it's swallowing prey.)

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