Naja hanna king (aka King Cobra)

King (courtesy Google images)

(courtsey Smithsonian National Zoo)

The King cobra, also known as the Hamadryad, is a venomous snake species in the family Elapidae, endemic to forests from India through Southeast Asia. It is threatened by habitat destruction and has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2010. It is the world's longest venomous snake.( Wikipedia)

Scientific name: Ophiophagus hannah

Class: Reptilia

Family: Elapidae

Kingdom: Animalia

Order: Squamata

Did You Know:

1. "King" is the longest poisonous snake in the world.
2. A single bite of "The King" is enough to kill an Elephant.
3. Generally it grow to 18-20 feet. King never stops growing and normally shed skin 5 times a year.
4. IUCN Red list place it at Vulnerable Position.
5. The synthetic Neurotoxins of KIng is used in pain killers and Arthritis Medicins.
6. King Cobra are shy and retreating & Highly aggressive when provoked.
7. King Cobra are notorious Cannibles.
8. They flare out their iconic Hood and emit a bone -chilling Hiss that sounds almost like a growling dog.

(Vava Suresh, a wild life conservationist who have rescued over One Thousand Kings)