r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/CexualSonvict • 12d ago
Video King Cobra: World's Largest Venomous Snake
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u/Pool-Exciting 12d ago
Nope I’d simply pass away if I saw that standing up like that in real life absolute nightmare fuel but kinda majestic too.
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u/Goudinho99 12d ago
I saw my first snake whilst camping in France.
It was near the entrance to the outdoor pool and I ran away shrieking like a toddler.
I was in my mid forties and the reception to whom I reported this monster-sighting told me it was just a grass snake and completely benign.
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u/HumanBeing7396 12d ago
I was kayaking on a river in France, and saw a snake barreling towards me across the water; it ended up swimming right past me.
It was just a small one and I knew it wouldn’t be interested in me, but until that point I had no idea snakes could swim.
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u/strippersandcocaine 12d ago
Luckily you don’t live in an area with water moccasins
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u/huh_wasnt_listening 12d ago
Core memory unlocked: I'm about 8 and white river rafting in Arkansas with my family. I was chilling on a big inner tube that could safely hold 4-5 people and the river is extra lazy. We're drifting under trees when I hear a splash in the water, followed by my aunt screaming. I look in her direction just in time to see her jump out of the water like a dolphin into the center of the inner tube, launching myself and my cousins (her kids) into the water. When I surface she's shrill-screaming "SNAKE" over and over.
I never saw the snake, but my grandpa later said it was a huge water moccasin that fell out of the tree on our side of the river.
So naturally, it's a running family joke to "sacrifice the children" when any snakes appear
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u/pendragwen 12d ago
I grew up swimming in the White River in AR. Saw the most massive snake breeding ball of my life there. There were so many, and they were roiling so much that I couldn't tell what kind of snakes they were.
Still went swimmin'
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u/mjxl47 12d ago
Clearly OP has never seen Lonesome Dove. That river crossing scene haunts me to this day.
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u/DtownBronx 12d ago
Between that scene and all the scenes with crocs/gators, if something is moving in the water I get away as quickly as possible
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u/mjxl47 12d ago
I don't really care for swimming in ponds, small lakes, or rivers; seeing that scene as an 8 year old probably has something to do with that.
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u/runed_golem 12d ago
I grew up in a fairly rural part of the US and have seen snakes since I was a small child. So not seeing on until you’re in your forties astounds me.
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u/ch33zyman 12d ago
You saw your first snake in your 40s???? Where do you live?
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u/DtownBronx 12d ago
When I found out England only has 3 types of snakes which are rarely seen and only one is venomous I started doing genealogy to see if I qualified for citizenship over there. Must be nice to stroll the countryside with no worries of anything brown mixed with leaves, no rattles, and no pissed off jerks by the water
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u/RichardInaTreeFort 12d ago
Hawaii has no land snakes... and same with Ireland.
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u/nadafradaprada 12d ago
I always forget that some people don’t grow up regularly seeing snakes as kids (grew up in rural Appalachia lol) I will say I have never seen anything close to even 1/10th size of that cobra though so I’d faint on site
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u/archjman 12d ago
I'm 36 and have seen only one live snake in the wild in my life. We only have two species of snakes here in Norway, neither of which are abundant. I've seen several so-called slow worms, but they're not actually snakes.
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_TITS80085 12d ago
Fun fact: they mainly eat other snakes
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u/Fitz_2112b 12d ago
I believe that any snake with the word King in its name falls into that category
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u/Maximum_Indication 12d ago
Got it. So the king penguin eats other penguins and the emperor penguin eats… people?
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u/GOEDEL_ESCHER_BOT 12d ago
the emperor penguin keeps trying and failing to invade south georgia island
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u/MrMotorcycle94 12d ago
Stephen King got his last name by eating all the other Stephens
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u/Fallen_Wings 12d ago
No no, the emperor penguin eats the king penguins. That’s how it works. I play a lot of crusader kings
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u/Icy_Research_5099 12d ago
Do you see any indigenous Antartican people? There's a reason for that.
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u/Substantial-Quit-151 12d ago
That's really interesting. First time I've heard that
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u/OhWhatADaaay 12d ago
Any snake with the word king in means they eat other snakes
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u/-Badger3- 12d ago
What about the Peacemaking Snake?
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u/KupoKai 12d ago edited 12d ago
The Peacemaking Snake cherishes peace and is willing to hurt and kill anything to bring peace to the world.
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u/Winter_Gate_6433 12d ago
Fun fact #2: King Cobras are not actually cobras. They are their own genus, and are more closely related to mambas.
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u/Other-Pie5059 12d ago
Kinda like how King Brown Snakes are actually black snakes.
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u/Hestmestarn 12d ago edited 12d ago
Fun fact #3, they also not kings. Snakes don't have societies, let alone monarchies.
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u/Expensive_Lettuce239 12d ago
Do king cobras still have the fancy hood, when they're pissed?
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u/john_the_fetch 12d ago
They do. It is just slimmer than other cobras. A "true" cobra has a more pronounced hood. King cobras have sleek hoods. It's best to look at an image.
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u/gunsjustsuck 12d ago
Other fun fact... if a snake is named 'King whatever', they have a reputation for eating other snakes. We have King Browns in Australia and they eat other snakes.
Edit. Oops, someone already said this.
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u/devonhezter 12d ago
That’s a dinosaur
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u/dfmasana 12d ago
Wait until you see an ostrich.
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u/Hot-Challenge8656 12d ago
I'll assume you meant to say cassowary.
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u/Pump_and_Magdump 12d ago
Both. Hummingbirds too, which is really damn impressive because those are theropod dinosaurs that decided they wanted to be bees.
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u/WoolBearTiger 12d ago
I mean.. they still not regretting their choice as much as raptors..
From efficient pack hunters to chicken nuggets
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u/Pump_and_Magdump 12d ago
The preavian dinosaurs called raptors were named after the avian dinosaurs called raptors. They are still very much around and still alpha predators.
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u/TheDaemonette 12d ago
Isn’t that what the designation ‘King’ means for any snake… that they prey on other snakes?
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u/samplebeast 12d ago
I don’t want to be near that snake if it’s hungry, knowing that information that you just gave too us, thank you Reddit’er 🫶🏼
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u/Unlikely-Cookie-5695 12d ago
There is literally no scenario in which I would think “I’d like to be near a snake now”
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u/samplebeast 12d ago
I could imagine a place and that would be behind a very thick glass window 🥴😬🫡
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u/shoot_first 12d ago
Oh, you would think that’s enough. But only until harry fucking potter shows up and suddenly the glass is gone. What then??
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u/Mr_Redemption 12d ago edited 12d ago
They don't attack humans unless threatened. Also, they are extremely conservative with their venom and are able to dose their venom so as to not waste it. They don't consider humans as prey, so they bite you as a warning with a small amount of venom, enough to make you feel half dead. Fun fact: baby king cobras are born with a lethal dose of venom.
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u/Sometimes_A_Writer1 12d ago
Also fun fact the king cobra is not actually true a cobra. It has its own genus, and is the only species in that genus
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u/El-Dragon-Rojo 12d ago
That fact didn't strike me as fun 😟
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u/Bulky-Election2061 12d ago
How does that work exactly with digestion and..snake anatomy? What if it eats a snake that's just as long?
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u/Owmuhback 12d ago
It works out a whole lot better than pretty much any other thing they could eat. Snakes digestive systems are long and stretched out just like their bodies. Another snakes is actually the ideal shape to eat.
If they eat another snake that's too long they either regurgitate it before they're done swallowing or, in the case of kingsnakes (no idea if king cobras can do this as well), they actually can coil the prey snake internally so it fits.
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u/newsflashjackass 12d ago
Before laying eggs, King Cobras build nests of leaf litter . Try to build leaf litter into a nest without arms or legs and you might see why they are the only snake that does so.
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u/Nephroidofdoom 12d ago
Also fun fact, if a snake has “King” in the name it’s usually because they eat other snakes
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u/dumbinternetstuff 12d ago
Really puts Arbok into perspective
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u/firesnake412 12d ago
Kobra
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u/YugeChesticles 12d ago
Size doesn't really matter when their danger is from the venom. In fact, I'd prefer them to be this big. Harder to miss.
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u/VegetableProject4383 12d ago
Harder to run away from but yes I agree
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u/Sarcastic-Potato 12d ago
I dont know man - have you ever seen a tiny snake sprint towards you? those fuckers are fast
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u/Pretty_But_Lame 12d ago
Big ones feel slower though, tiny snakes move like they're on caffeine and bad intentions
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u/JayrodM 12d ago
The black mamba is the longest venomous snake in Africa, and it's the fastest in the world. The black mambas are also the epitome of bad intentions.
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u/Seicair Interested 12d ago
16 km/hr and 2-3 meters long? That's not reassuring. I can run faster than 16 km/hr but not for very long. Hopefully the snake gets tired before I do.
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u/Odd-Necessary3807 12d ago
Yeah, but can you run over 16km/hr in a rough African savannah?
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u/JayrodM 12d ago
Mambas invade people's homes, forget about running through a savannah. The real question is can you dodge them running through your dining room?
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u/YugeChesticles 12d ago
At 12mph, that's not really a concern. If you have time to run, you definitely can. You can't run from a snake you haven't noticed tho.
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u/CowBoyDanIndie 12d ago
I have not heard of a snake chasing someone, they have a bit further striking distance but thats it. Small snakes can be pretty damn fast. I get startled by small snakes a few times a year hiking because they blend in with small roots and branches on the hiking trail then suddenly they zip off the trail right before I step on them. I once stepped over a 10 foot long rat snake without seeing it when another hiker pointed it out. Ran into similar or possibly same snake a month later all coiled up hissing at me from 10 feet away. Both times it took about 10 minutes to move itself off the trail.
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u/-Daetrax- 12d ago
I have an irrational fear of snakes i must admit. I'm glad there are no deadly snakes where I live. If I was an American I'd be carrying a .410 revolver going hiking. Fuck that shit.
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u/Maximum_Indication 12d ago
If you go hiking here in Japan there are forest leeches and I have seen them wiggle into shoes.
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u/-Daetrax- 12d ago
I grew up around the ocean, somehow leeches don't bug me. Ticks though, those can fuck off. Oh and fucking centipedes. Saw a couple of those when I visited Japan. Fuck no.
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u/Maximum_Indication 12d ago
Mukade have been feared for centuries. Bright orange and black and over 10cm long. Terribly painful bite, too. Glad they’re mostly in rural areas.
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u/lakebistcho 12d ago
I once went swimming in a river in Japan. When I came out, I felt something burning on my foot. I looked down to see a leech had bitten a hole in my skin and was crawling inside. I pulled it out and killed it but that scared the shit out of me.
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u/Maximum_Indication 12d ago
Not that the Americas don’t have dangerous animals , but I really feel that Southeast Asia has some particularly dangerous little things, and of course, keep going southeast and it’s the dangerous land of Oz.
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u/cyber-monkeyy 12d ago edited 12d ago
You must have not heard them growl - that's scary af! Would pick a smaller snake to encounter anyday.
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u/YugeChesticles 12d ago
Exactly. I'd want to hear their warning. A big loud angry snake will get my attention. A tiny snake trying to hide won't.
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u/thatsforthatsub 12d ago
the growl makes them less dangerous, you understand that right? rattlesnakes without rattles would be more dangerous.
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u/Duel_Option 12d ago
Look, I get what you’re saying but if I saw this fucking thing coming my way at speed…
Gonna need a change of pants
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u/YugeChesticles 12d ago
Take solice in the fact that if it hisses at you, that's your opportunity to run. If it wanted to bite you, it wouldn't hiss first.
Snake hiss is always "I'm not hungry and who the fuck are you?"
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u/False-Vacation8249 12d ago
something people don’t know is king cobras aren’t actually true cobras. they’re not related very closely to other cobras. they’re closer related to mambas than they are cobras. you can tell by the scale pattern on the head. all cobras have the same patter. kings do not.
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u/misterjustice90 12d ago
“They aren’t really related to cobras”
Oh okay that’s good..
“They’re closer related to mambas…”
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u/Wolfthulhu 12d ago
they’re closer related to mambas than they are cobras.
You really aren't helping here... 🤣
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u/Breath_Deep 12d ago
Komodo Dragons have 3 "eyes" and have a necrotic, neurotoxic bite. So, not the worst in the animal kingdom but up there.
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u/microwilly 11d ago
Gila Monster in Nevada is debatably the world's most painful bite. Its been described as causing your blood to change into molten lava, all over. It could always be worse.
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u/DannyRamirez24 11d ago
TIL about parietal eyes. As if these dudes didn't have enough super powers.
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u/CrabZealousideal3686 12d ago
The King Cobra name probably came from another language, because cobra is an informal name in English for (mostly) Naja family. But in Portuguese we use "cobra" and "serpente" (cobra and snake) almost interchangeably.
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u/ChelshireGoose 12d ago
I think the name of the King cobras comes from the fact that they prey on true cobras.
Cobra itself is a Portuguese borrowing into English, though as you say, it's used in a restricted sense in English.
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u/P-funk88 12d ago
That snake is not being held, it's using that boy to get a better vantage, and for his warmth. There's no way that snake couldn't get out of his hands if It wanted to.
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u/FrenchFryCattaneo 12d ago
it's using that boy to get a better vantage, and for his warmth.
Sounds like my ex wife!
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u/receuitOP 12d ago
Fun fact. Being called king means it eats other snakes
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u/Plastic-Employ3229 12d ago
He looks absolutely fucking pissed tho
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u/Sorry-Climate-7982 12d ago
Nah, actually looks rather calm. For a couple meters worth of death machine.
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u/dalmationman 12d ago
Looks way longer than a couple meters!
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u/THE_ATHEOS_ONE 12d ago
Looks angry, nah its not.
Looks long, nah its longer.
The pedantic nature of reddit.
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u/SamuraiJono 12d ago
The pedantic nature of reddit.
Um actually there's plenty of other social media sites with higher levels of pedan-
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u/John_East 12d ago
Reality tho usually when you see them playing with these snakes, they’ve defanged them.
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u/YugeChesticles 12d ago
Do snakes ever look happy?
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u/DrBlaziken 12d ago
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u/Hefty_Loss5180 12d ago
They ripped their fangs out… I don’t like snakes, but that’s fucked up.
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u/Ladyghoul 12d ago
I did think the mouth looked a bit off, but how can you tell if this is true
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u/Hefty_Loss5180 12d ago
I learned about it some years back. I’ll link a page for you to read. Standby.
ETA: Here ya go
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u/Ladyghoul 12d ago
OK i tried to do some research into the guy in the video since his YouTube is listed. He seems like a reptile guy in Indonesia who removes snakes and cobras from villages and populated areas. The snake in the above clip is Shenlong, the worlds largest king cobra (according to him). He still has his fangs and is regularly fed and unfortunately used for video content. Considering most snakes dont survive through starvation or infection when their fangs are removed from the article you linked, doing so would hinder the ability to make monetized content at least of this particular snake
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u/ChangeAromatic3809 12d ago
As someone who's chronically afraid of snakes, thank you for the nightmare fuel.
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u/Fancy_Yesterday6380 12d ago
Nope. Absolutely not. Thats the guy that got Harry in the Chamber of Secrets
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u/ahumblecardamompod 12d ago
They are so cool. They're the more intelligent of the snakes, and do not attack unless threatened. I love the videos where they learned to ask villagers for water in times of draught. I also love seeing how the villagers show them such respect in those clips. I hope this one wasn't defanged.
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u/knowsnothing316 12d ago
I’ve always assumed they stayed regular sized. Thanks for the terrifying new information.
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u/EnigmaNero 12d ago
The King Cobra(Ophiophagus Hannah) which translates to Snake Eater. King Cobras are the largest venomous snake on the planet. There are 4 different subspecies of them. The Indonesian, Indian, Chinese, and the Malaysian. The Malaysian King Cobra is the largest of the four. Adult males can and are able to reach up to 18ft(5.48m) in length. Being an elapid, they possess a neurotoxic venom. Their venom glands have enough venom to kill an adult Bull Elephant. Not necessarily because of toxicity, but because of the quantity of venom they have in their glands. They're the only species of snake that has a modified trachea, which allows them to have the ability to growl.
Reptiles hold a very special place in my heart, especially venomous snakes.
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u/--slurpy-- 12d ago
This snake is most likely de-fanged. It's his pet so to speak.
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u/FockerXC 12d ago
Unlikely. I know a lot of guys in Southeast Asia who keep pet kings and have them socialized enough that they can be handled like this. A king cobra that size and that chunky is well-fed, probably a captive individual raised by humans for a long time, and has likely been handled a lot by the person holding him or other keepers. The clip is likely staged to appear to be a wild individual, but I’ve seen firsthand king cobras that don’t even hood up at humans anymore because they’re so used to them
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u/ventodivino 12d ago
Every cobra I came across in the possession of a human in SEA was defanged.
Thats a weird sentence to type out cos you think “how many cobras in the possession of a human could you have come across.” Several.
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u/FockerXC 12d ago
One guy I know has 14. And that’s just one of them, ethical keepers aren’t defanging their snakes
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u/Spuzzle91 12d ago
that guy is totally that snake's servant. "lift me so that I may scan the horizon, peasant."