Elapidae
Sunda King Cobra
VenomousOphiophagus bungarus
4 photographs of the Sunda King Cobra. (c) Павлик Лисицын, some rights reserved (CC BY).
The Sunda King Cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 18 countries.
If you are bitten
This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Family
- Elapidae
- Danger
- high
About the Sunda King Cobra
Ophiophagus bungarus, the Sunda king cobra, is a species of king cobra that inhabits areas south of the Kra Isthmus or land bridge joining the Malay Peninsula with the rest of southeast Asia or Indochina. The countries it is found in include southern Thailand (deep south), western Malaysia, Singapore and offshore islands, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali, and some of the islands of the southern Philippines Archipelago.
Description
Large adult Ophiophagus bungarus generally lack bands, but some specimens may have narrow pale bands that lack dark edges along the body. Its dorsal scales range from brownish-yellow to mahogany, compared to the dark grey of O. kaalinga. Additionally, at the throat, there is little to no contrast between the ventral and dorsal scales.
Juvenile O. bungarus have higher body band counts at 57–87 bands, compared to O. hannah and O. kaalinga at 27–48 and 28–48 respectively. However, it is less than Juvenile O. salvatana which has 85–86 body bands. They can reach 3.6 metres in length.
O. bungarus also differs in having a lower pterygoid tooth count of 11, compared to O. hannah with 18–21.
Etymology
The species name "bungarus" comes from the genus name of kraits. It may refer to the fact that, like kraits, it eats other snakes, or to their partially undivided subcaudals.
Conservation
O. bungarus has not been reassessed since being split. Therefore, it shares the status of "Vulnerable" with the other king cobras.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Sunda King Cobra
- Is the Sunda King Cobra venomous?
- Yes. The Sunda King Cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus) is venomous and belongs to the Elapidae family (cobra, mamba, coral or sea snake). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
- Is the Sunda King Cobra poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Sunda King Cobra is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Sunda King Cobra dangerous?
- This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Where does the Sunda King Cobra live?
- The Sunda King Cobra has verified records in 18 countries, including India, Thailand, Singapore. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Sunda King Cobra?
- The species name "bungarus" comes from the genus name of kraits. It may refer to the fact that, like kraits, it eats other snakes, or to their partially undivided subcaudals.
If you are bitten by the Sunda King Cobra
Do
- Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
- Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
- Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
- Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
- Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
- Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
- Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.
First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.
Where it is found
More Elapidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Elapidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Ophiophagus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Ophiophagus bungarus
Keep learning
- Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
- Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.