Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) cannibalism, male swallowing female on forest floor, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) hatching from egg, captive, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / Young King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) hatchling climbing branch with cup fungus, captive, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) male and female courtship, Agumbe, Karnatka, India, captive

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) with hood raised, captive, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Norbert Wu / Arizona Mountain King Snake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) on branch, Arizona

Mary McDonald / King cobra juvenile. Captive.

Jabruson / King cobra in strike pose {Ophiophagus hannah} Bangkok, Thailand at Quenn Saovabha mem institute and snake farm

ZSSD / Californian Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus californiae) with two heads, native to California

Tom Vezo / Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus), Arizona

Michael D. Kern / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) with hood raised, captive, from Asia, vulnerable species

Shibai Xiao / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in strike pose, Guangxi Province, China.

Martin Willis / King Brown Snake (Pseudechis australis) feeding on snake, Boulia, Queensland, Australia

Sandesh Kadur / A 12-foot King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) crossing the road, Agumbe, Western ghats, Karnataka, India, April

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) cannibalism, male swallowing female on forest floor, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) cannibalism, male swallowing female on forest floor, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) cannibalism, male swallowing female on forest floor, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) cannibalism, male swallowing female on forest floor, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobras (Ophiophagus hannah) hatching from eggs, captive, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) nest with eggs, India, June

Sandesh Kadur / Swelling of hand due to a King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) bite, Western Ghats of southern India

Sandesh Kadur / Catching a King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) with a pipe and bag, Western Ghats of southern India, March

Sandesh Kadur / Man handling a 12-foot long King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) watched by villagers in the Western Ghats of southern India, March

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in tree, Agumbe, Karnatka, India, captive

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) two males in aggressive display, Agumbe, Karnatka, India, captive

Sandesh Kadur / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) searching for prey on forest floor, Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) courtship, male head butting female while female goes into a submissive coil, Agumbe, Karnatka, India, captive

Sandesh Kadur / Romulus Whitaker (guardian of the King Cobras in India) looking up at a King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in tree, captive, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in tree, looking down for signs of movement on the forest floor, captive, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) with raised head, captive, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in water, captive, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) hatchling in nest, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) hatchlings in nest, Agumbe, Karnatka, India

Ernie Janes / Portrait of a Goins King Snake (Lampropeltis getulus goini). Captive.

Ernie Janes / Goins King Snake (Lampropeltis getulus goini) consuming a dead mouse. Captive.

Juergen Freund / Researcher Guido Westhoff doing quick lab work with 2 fresh road kills, a King brown / Mulga snake (Pseudechis australis) and a Black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus) in a mobile laboratory. Q...

Barry Mansell / Arizona Mountain King Snake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) Arizona, USA

Barry Mansell / Desert Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula splendida) coiled on ground, Arizona, USA

Daniel Heuclin / Arizona mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) Found in Chiricahua mountains, SE Arirona. Controlled conditions

Michael D. Kern / Variable / Thayer's kingsnake (Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri) captive, from Central Americca

John Cancalosi / California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus californiae) in striped phase, defensive posture, Captive, USA

John Cancalosi / California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus californiae) in striped phase, Captive, USA

John Cancalosi / California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus californiae) in aberrant phase, Captive, USA

Pete Oxford / Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus) in leaf litter, Little St. Simon's Island, Georgia

Pete Oxford / Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus) on beach, Little St. Simon's Island, Georgia

Pete Oxford / Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus) on beach, Little St. Simon's Island, Georgia

Pete Oxford / Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus), Little St. Simon's Island, Georgia

Pete Oxford / Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus) head, Little St. Simon's Island, Georgia

Pete Oxford / Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus) coiled in leaf litter, Little St. Simon's Island, Georgia

Barry Mansell / Scarlet kingsnake {Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides} Central Florida, USA

Vivek Menon / King cobra {Ophiophagus hannah} killed by villagers, Rajaji NP, Uttar Pradesh, India

Tim Laman / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) swimming, hunting other snakes along the edge of a mangrove river, Sundarban Forest, Khulna Province, Bangladesh.

Tim Laman / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) swimming, hunting other snakes along the edge of a mangrove river, Sundarban Forest, Khulna Province, Bangladesh.

Tony Phelps / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) captive male, 3.5m long, Cango Wildlife ranch, South Africa

Tony Phelps / Reptile Curator with 9-year male King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) 3.5m long, captive, Cango Wildlife ranch, South Africa

Robert Valentic / King brown snake {Pseudechis australis} male fans out in threat display after sensing danger while basking on desert dune, Leigh Creek, Southern Australia

Robert Valentic / King brown snake {Pseudechis australis} female with tongue flickering in response to threat, Westmar, Queensland, Australia

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Arizona Mountain King Snake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) a non-venomous species mimics venomous Coral Snake with similar banded pattern, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Rod Williams / Female King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), Captive, found South East Asia

Michael D. Kern / White sided axanthic Brooks kingsnake {Lampropeltis getulus brooksi} captive, from South Florida, USA

Michael D. Kern / Mt Potisie Kingsnake {Lampropeltis sp} captive, from Nevada, USA

Michael D. Kern / California Mountain Kingsnake {Lampropeltis zonata zonata} captive, from California, USA

Robert Valentic / King brown snake {Pseudechis australis} held in hand to expose fang sheath, Sturt NP, New South Wales, Australia

Robert Valentic / King brown snake {Pseudechis australis} male responding to threat by hissing loudly and flickering tongue, Western Australia

Robert Valentic / King brown snake {Pseudechis australis} male searching for the scent of a female during the spring mating season, Winton, Queensland, Australia

Barry Mansell / Desert Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus splendida) juvenile, Arizona, USA

Vivek Menon / King cobra {Ophiophagus hannah} captive

ZSSD / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) close up of scales, native to Asia

ZSSD / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) portrait with toungue extended, venomous, native to Asia

Michael D. Kern / King Cobra {Ophiophagus hannah} portrait, captive, South eastern Asia snake

Michael D. Kern / King Cobra {Ophiophagus hannah} portrait tasting with tongue, captive, South eastern Asia snake

Rod Williams / King cobra {Ophiophagus hannah} female, captive, from Asia

ZSSD / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) close up of eye and skin

ZSSD / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) portrait, venomous, native to Asia

Tony Phelps / Common kingsnake {Lampropeltis getulus} adult feeding on rodent, captive, from California, USA

John Cancalosi / Common kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus) swallows Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) USA, captive

John Cancalosi / Sonoran mountain kingsnake in tree (Lampropeltis pyromelana) Arizona, USA, captive

Barry Mansell / Florida kingsnake {Lampropeltis getulus floridana} Florida, USA

Todd Pusser / Eastern kingsnake {Lampropeltis getulus} eating Eastern hognosed snake beside road, USA.

Todd Pusser / Eastern kingsnake {Lampropeltis getulus} juvenile, USA. North Carolina

ZSSD / California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) portrait, non-venomous snake that mimics the venomous Coral Snake, native to western United States

Robert Valentic / Adult male King brown snake, strike pose {Pseudechis australis} Northern Territory, Australia

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Arizona Mountain King Snake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) climbing tree, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Arizona Mountain King Snake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) climbing tree, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Norbert Wu / Sonoran Mountain King Snake (Lampropeltis pyromelana knoblochi) mimics venomous Coral Snake with similar banded pattern, Arizona

Robert Valentic / Adult female King brown snake {Pseudechis australis} NSW, Australia

Robert Valentic / Adult male King brown snake, strike pose {Pseudechis australis} NT, Australia

LYNN M. STONE / Juvenile King cobra eating another snake {Ophiophagus hannah} captive, from Asia

Barry Mansell / Sonora mountain kingsnake {Lampropeltis pyromelana} Arizona, USA

John Cancalosi / Sonoran mountain kingsnake {Lampropeltis pyromelana} in tree. Arizona, USA.

Mary McDonald / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) juvenile C. Defensive threat display, SE Asia.

Mary McDonald / King cobra juvenile (Ophiophagus hannah). South-East Asia

John Cancalosi / Common kingsnake eats Western diamond-back rattlesnake. USA, captive

Nigel Marven / Filming King cobra for BBC TV programme 'The Serpents Embrace' (Natural World series) 1990. Florida, USA

Pete Oxford / King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) swallowing Boa. C

Mary McDonald / King cobra juvenile (Ophiophagus hannah) occurs SE Asia.