King cobras rarely attack humans, but one bite contains enough venom to bring down an elephant.
It seems unfairly menacing that a snake that can literally "stand
up" and look a full-grown person in the eye would also be among the most
venomous on the planet, but that describes the famous king cobra.
King
cobras can reach 18 feet (5.5 meters) in length, making them the
longest of all venomous snakes. When confronted, they can raise up to
one-third of their bodies straight off the ground and still move forward
to attack. They will also flare out their iconic hoods and emit a
bone-chilling hiss that sounds almost like a growling dog.
Their
venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but the amount of
neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite—up to two-tenths of a fluid
ounce (seven milliliters)—is enough to kill 20 people, or even an
elephant. Fortunately, king cobras are shy and will avoid humans
whenever possible, but they are fiercely aggressive when cornered.
