King Snake Vs. Cobra

King snakes are part of the constrictor family and tend to hide under rocks and branches for protection. The king cobra’s immense size makes it an intimidating reptile, but this snake normally avoids human contact.

Size

King snakes can reach up to 6 feet in length while the king cobra can reach up to 13 feet in length.

Diet

Both king snakes and king cobras eat eggs, lizards, smaller snakes and small mammals like mice and rats in the wild.

Habitat

King snakes live primarily on the east cost of the U.S. or in the warmer climates of California and Arizona and prefer to stay on land or on the edges of bodies of water. King cobras live in India, southern parts of China and in the southeast region of Asia and live and hunt in the water, trees and dry land.

Venom

King snakes can bite when threatened but do not secrete poisonous venom. King cobras secrete enough venom in their bite to kill an elephant, according to National Geographic.

Fun Fact

The king cobra will build a nest to lay eggs in and guards this nest until the eggs hatch. This is the only snake known to exhibit this behavior, according to National Geographic.

References

• Smithsonian National Zoological Park: Common King Snake Fact Sheet
• National Geographic: King Cobra