King Cobra vs Indian Cobra: Which is more dangerous? Know all differences between them

King Cobra vs Indian Cobra: Snakes are among the most dangerous and mysterious species on Earth. Known for their deadly venom, they are some of the most lethal and formidable predators in nature. When we talk about the most dangerous snakes, the king cobra always makes the list. On the other hand, the Indian cobra is believed to be more lethal to humans than the king cobra. Both serpents belong to the cobra family, but they differ significantly in aggressiveness, size, and venom strength. Notably, the king cobra is one of the largest venomous snakes in the world, capable of injecting a large amount of venom into its prey’s body, but it is considered less aggressive. In contrast, Indian cobras are smaller in size but possess highly potent venom and are frequently encountered by humans, making them more dangerous to us.

King cobra vs Indian cobra: Venom Strength

The King cobra, while known for its potent venom, isn’t quite as deadly as the Indian cobra. In a single bite, this snake can inject a significant amount of venom, up to 1,000 mg. But, humans aren’t its intended target; its venom is actually meant to bring down larger prey, such as other snakes. This makes it less lethal to us, with a venom toxicity level of 1.28mg/kg (referring to the lethal dosage required to endanger 50% of the population) which is dramatically less toxic relative to the venom of the Indian cobra.

The Indian cobra injects around 170-250 mg of venom per bite. One bite of this serpent can kill about 10 people. Its venom is more dangerous, with an LD50 of 0.56 mg/kg. because of its lethal venom, the Indian cobra is a member of the “Big”Four”—four major snakes that are responsible for the majority of fatalities across the world. The Indian cobra kills around 15,000 humans every year.

King Cobra vs Indian Cobra: The Size

The Indian cobra has more potent venom than the King Cobra but they it is small in size. kind cobra can reach up to 19 feet and weigh 15 pounds, making it the largest venomous snake in the world. It is mostly found in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In contrast, the Indian cobra typically grows to about 7 feet and weighs only 2.5 to 6 pounds.

King cobra vs Indian cobra: Who Has Bigger Fangs?

Both the king cobra and the Indian cobra are unique in their own kind, they have permanent fangs that don’t retract like in other snake species. With a larger size of half an inch, the king cobra’s fangs distinguish it from the Indian cobra’s, which are just 0.3 inches long. It’s this sizeable difference that allows the king cobra to release a larger amount of venom in one strike, despite its venom being less potent. The king cobra’s fangs are best suited to grip and inject their venom into bigger prey. On the other hand, the Indian cobra uses a quick bite and chewing style to inject its venom.

King cobra vs Indian cobra: Genetic differences

Even though the Indian cobra and the king cobra share their names, they’re not quite the same. The Indian cobra is a purebred member of the Naja family, true cobras, if you will. In contrast, the king cobra stands out in its unique category, the Ophiophagus genus. So, even though it lords it over the “king” in its name, it’s not a “true cobra” by classification. Yet, they share many attributes, like their venom potency, the notorious hood display, and their unique ability to fan out their ribs into an imposing hood when they sense danger.

King Cobra Vs Indian Cobra: Who Would Win The Ultimate Battle?

If both snakes were to face each other in a theoretical battle, the king cobra would likely come out on top due to its longer fangs, larger size, and the greater quantity of venom it can inject. Its size and strength would give it an advantage over the Indian cobra. Notably, such encounters are rare in the wild, as both snake species tend to avoid confrontation.

King Cobra Vs Indian Cobra: Key Difference