Head to head
Forest Cobra vs King Cobra
Forest Cobra
VS King Cobra
The forest cobra of Africa and the king cobra of Asia are two large forest cobras, though the king cobra is not a true cobra and is in a genus of its own.
| Forest Cobra | King Cobra | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Naja melanoleuca | Ophiophagus hannah |
| Relationship | A true cobra, in the genus Naja | Not a true cobra, in its own genus, Ophiophagus |
| Size | Commonly around 2 metres long and sometimes more | Typically 3 to 4 metres, with the longest recorded 5.85 metres |
| Diet | Fish, amphibians, rodents, birds, and other snakes, often near water | Almost entirely other snakes, plus monitor lizards |
| Venom | A powerful neurotoxic venom that can cause paralysis | Neurotoxic, with a single bite able to deliver 400 to 600 mg, enough to be life-threatening |
| Display | Spreads a hood and strikes if cornered, though it is usually shy | Can lift the front third of its body, up to 1.8 metres, off the ground |
| Habitat and range | Rainforest, swamp forest, and wet savanna across West and Central Africa | Forests of India, southern China, and Southeast Asia, from the Western Ghats to the Philippines and Indonesia |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
Forest Cobra vs King Cobra: common questions
Is the king cobra a true cobra?
No, it belongs to its own genus, Ophiophagus, whose name means snake-eater, rather than to the true cobras of the genus Naja.
Which one eats other snakes?
The king cobra, which feeds almost entirely on other snakes, plus monitor lizards.
Which one is more threatened?
The king cobra, which is Vulnerable, while the forest cobra is Least Concern.