Which Is the Longest Venomous Snake in the World?

The king cobra lives in the forests of India and Southeast Asia and routinely grows longer than 3 metres, with exceptional individuals approaching 5.7 metres. Its scientific genus, Ophiophagus, means 'snake-eater', because other snakes make up most of its diet. When threatened it can lift roughly a third of its body off the ground and look a standing adult in the eye. A single bite can deliver enough neurotoxic venom to kill an elephant, though king cobras usually avoid people. In 2024 scientists proposed splitting the king cobra into four separate species based on genetic and physical differences.