Top 15 Most Venomous Cobras in the World
15 Species of cobra considered to be the most fatal and deadly.
Cobras are one of the most dreaded and feared animals in the world because they are very venomous and deadly. A cobra is any of a number of species of poisonous snakes of the family elapidae that belongs to the genera Naja, Ophiopagus or Hemachatus. Cobras generally inhabit tropical and desert regions of Asia and Africa.
Among the most notable attributes of the Cobra are their powerful venom and hood that can enlarge. Here are some notably poisonous species of cobra.
Philippine Cobra (N. philippinensis)
This stock species of cobra is a very toxic snake native to the Philippines. They can be found in the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Catanduanes and Masbate. Its average length is 1.70 m. It is locally called “ulupong” in Tagalog. Drop by drop, the Northern Philippine Cobra has the most potent venom of all the species in the Naja family (cobra family).
Ashe’s Spitting Cobra (N. ashei)
Africa’s Naja ashei snake is not only one of the world’s newest snake species-it’s also the largest spitting cobra. This massive, aggressive, extremely venomous snake that can grow to more than 9 feet (274 centimeters) long-form a separate species.
Egyptian Cobra (N. haje)
It is commonly confused with the snouted cobra. The Egyptian cobra is the most common cobra in Africa and is responsible for many deaths there. Its range extends from the Sahara Desert to the Syrian Desert. The Egyptian cobra may grow to 5′-6′8” (1.5-2m) in length and specimens as long as 8 ft have been seen in some areas.
Red Spitting Cobra (Naja pallida)
This cobra is native to Africa. They can spit venom up to 2 m through tiny apertures in the fangs. They can grow from 70 to 120 cm (2½-4 ft) in length and can vary in color from red to gray. It is a terrestrial snake, and nocturnal.
The juveniles are easily recognized by having a dark black throat band. They are oviparous, laying up to 15 eggs in a burrow or in rotting vegetation. They are common in northeast Africa, (Nile valley, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia).
Mozambique Spitting Cobra (N. mossambica)
The Mozambique Spitting Cobra is a type of cobra, native to Africa. It is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in Africa, second only to the Mamba. This snake is a nervous and highly strung snake. When confronted at close quarters this snake can rear up to as much as two-thirds of its length, spread its long narrow hood and will readily “spit” in defense.
Ringhal or Rinkhal (H. haemachatus)
Ringhal is also a spitting cobra. It is the smallest of the cobras reaching only about 1.2m or about 4 ft in length. It is a venomous elapid species found in parts of southern Africa. It is one of a group of cobras that has developed the ability to spit venom as a defense mechanism. Rinkhals are unique amongst African cobras in being ovoviviparous. They give birth to 20-35 young, but as many as 65 babies have been recorded. The Rinkhals is unique also, compared to cobras, as it has keeled scales.
King Cobra (O. Hannah)
King cobra is the world’s longest poisonous snake with an average 3.7 m or 12 ft in length but is known to grow to 5.5 m or 18 ft. They are found in the Philippines, Malaysia, Southern China, Myanmar and Malay Peninsula. It feeds almost entirely on other snakes, even venomous ones, although it sometimes preys on small rodents and birds.
It will only attack humans if provoked. If not treated, a king cobra’s bite can kill a person in just half an hour. The snake is fully capable of killing a human with a single bite. The mortality rate can be as high as 75%; but most bites actually involve non-fatal amounts of venom. The amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite-up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce (seven milliliters)-is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant.
Asian Spectacled or Indian Cobra (N. naja)
This cobra is responsible for many deaths each year especially in India, where it is regarded with religious awe and seldom killed. It is associated with snake charming there. It is the most common species of cobra.
Black Cobra
The Black cobra, found in Pakistan and North India, is generally considered to be a sub-species.
Forest Cobra (N. melanoleuca)
Forest cobra is a large, thick-bodied, black snake from the tropical and subtropical rain forests of Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. Considered by some to be the least dangerous of the African (Naja) Cobras, the bite of this snake, however, can be rapidly fatal without prompt intervention.
Monocled Cobra (N. kaouthia)
Monocled cobra is the second most common cobra species and is widespread in Asia. It has a circular mark behind the hood unlike that of the spectacled Cobra. This cobra can be found in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, NE India, Laos, N Malaysia, Southern China, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Black-necked Spitting Cobra (N. nigricollis)
This species of cobra is native to Egypt. The spitting cobra is capable of ejecting its venom from a distance of about 2.4 m or about 8 ft into the eyes of its victims. The venom causes temporary or permanent blindness and great pain. Despite their name, these snakes do not actually spit their venom. They spray the venom, using muscular contractions upon the venom glands.
Cape Cobra (N. nivea)
The Cape Cobra is a moderately sized cobra inhabiting the arid regions of Southern Africa. It averages 4 feet (120cm) long but may grow to be 6 feet (180cm) long. The mortality rate in humans is 60% and death normally occurs 2-5 hours after being bitten and is usually as a result of respiratory failure due to the onset of paralysis. The snake is quick to strike and becomes aggressive if cornered, but given its space it is likely to retreat. It has the most potent venom of all African cobras. It is probably the snake with the highest fatality count in the Southern parts of South Africa.
Chinese Cobra (N. atra)
The Chinese cobra is a species of cobra that lives in areas of Southeast Asia. The average adult length of a Chinese cobra is about 1.5 m, or five ft. They are usually dark brown or black, with widely spaced, lightly-colored bands around the body. Like other cobras, Chinese cobras have a marking resembling an eye on the back of the hood. The venom of the Chinese cobra is a powerful cobrotoxin b.
Central Asian Cobra (N. oxiana)
Central Asian Cobra is a species of venomous snake found in Central Asia. Like other cobras, this large snake spreads its “hood” as a warning to other animals. When alarmed, it rears up and widens its neck skin by altering the position of its ribs.
These are just fifteen of the many species of cobra.
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35 Responses to “Top 15 Most Venomous Cobras in the World”
On September 22, 2008 at 7:32 am
Amazing list of venomous cobras, bro.
On September 22, 2008 at 7:46 am
Very interesting, I didn’t realize that there are so many different types of Cobras.
On September 22, 2008 at 8:00 am
They are very fatal, but are handsome guys. Thanks for the info bro..
On September 22, 2008 at 8:01 am
nice ssssssssssssssshsss
On September 22, 2008 at 8:03 am
My husband enjoyed this article, very interesting.
On September 22, 2008 at 8:17 am
Cobras scare me to death. Actually, I can’t even handle garden snakes. Yikes! Great post Norbert.
On September 22, 2008 at 9:12 am
These snakes make me scary.
On September 22, 2008 at 9:26 am
Good article with nice pics. Snakes are scary.
On September 22, 2008 at 9:51 am
Important list of cobras.
On September 22, 2008 at 11:06 am
An interesting subject as always and beautiful pictures, great research about cobras. I didn’t know there were so many of them. Best wishes,Ruby
On September 22, 2008 at 3:35 pm
those are soo scary!
On September 22, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Gosh i am so scared of snakes, LOL, but a great article, thank you Nobert.
On September 22, 2008 at 7:26 pm
This is a great article, but I’m glad I don’t live near any of these snakes.
On September 22, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Very interesting article. I am not afraid of snakes but these guys are scary looking.
On September 22, 2008 at 10:31 pm
They’re so scary, but I have to admit they look so grand and majestic too when they strike that distinct cobra pose
.
On September 23, 2008 at 7:32 am
The Indian one (black) is the scariest
On September 23, 2008 at 11:02 pm
scary cobras
On September 24, 2008 at 1:22 am
Any snake that spits venom is freaky. Cool article and nice picks Nobert.
On September 24, 2008 at 5:23 am
scaring cobras….really nice
On September 24, 2008 at 5:48 pm
A great collection of cobras…scary though!
On September 24, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I guess it’s okay to look at these cobra pictures, but I never wish to encounter them in real life. Nice article though. It is wise to know something about what scare you. Thanks.
On September 25, 2008 at 10:07 pm
The photos and article are good but I just don’t like snakes. I opened our front door a few weeks ago and one was resting on our front porch. Thank goodness it wasn’t a cobra.
On October 21, 2008 at 12:08 am
they look so scary… sssssssssssss.
On October 25, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I missed this one the first time, but after seeing snakes at the zoo today, I had to check yours out. Did you have nightmares the night you researched this? I’m hoping I don’t tonight!
On November 26, 2008 at 10:03 am
When I was a young boy, a cobra chased us that even the carabao were riding run to the hilt.
On December 9, 2008 at 12:20 pm
i saw this color of a cobra, I saw one when i was a kid!
On January 7, 2009 at 8:31 am
sir“` i want to infom you about the most dagrious cobra of the world “ i have seen him in araibian sea ,, while i was diving , when i have hav compalted my divingsaf st bbbbbbb
On January 16, 2009 at 6:38 am
Thanks for the article. A Rinkhal was found in our estate an hour ago, and shot dead. I am petrified on snake, and the idea of having cobra roaming around freely in our yards is enough to give me palpitations. I wanted to know what to do if bitten by a Rinkhal.
On March 22, 2009 at 4:04 am
That’s a great article, I’m going to south-east asia soon, hopefully I won’t run in to any cobras :/
There is one mistake though, the ‘poisonous’ label refers to something being toxic if you eat it (such as mushrooms or some frogs) whereas venomous refers to a toxin administered by the animal itself. None of these Cobras are actually poisonous.
On April 3, 2009 at 8:04 am
Ringhals is always to my knowledge spelt with a “s” on the end of the name. We used to keep them at boarding school in the 1960’s just outside of Johannesburg. With perserverance they eventually got reasonably tame – but it was a wonder none of us got bitten.
On April 9, 2009 at 11:57 pm
its the 1st time anyone made this awesome!
On April 25, 2009 at 12:08 am
Frightens me,to see the philippine cobra is the most dangerous.I’m going to Palawan in january 2010…
On June 1, 2009 at 5:23 pm
We call the Philippine cobra “kamamalu” in the province of Pampanga. And it’s true, these cobras when totally pissed will chase people. I remember when I was a kid while we were all set for my uncle’s funeral procession, a group of men came carrying a lady bitten by this cobra. The hospital is miles away and they asked my father if we have any snake bite kit. Fortunately we did have one. My dad started the process and told the men to keep extracting the venom out with the pump while on their way to the hospital. The woman survived. Months later the woman saw my dad, bowed down and tried to kiss his feet as my embarrased father picked her up from the ground.
On June 1, 2009 at 5:29 pm
In the Philippines we often encounter these cobras on rice fields and rice paddies.
On October 23, 2009 at 8:13 pm
the black mamba is way scaryer
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