King Cobra vs Black Mamba: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between the king cobra and the black mamba is that the king cobra is a snake-eating Asian species, the world's longest venomous snake, while the black mamba is a faster, slimmer African hunter of mammals and birds. Only the king cobra spreads a true hood. Both have potent neurotoxic venom. The mamba's is more toxic drop for drop; the king cobra injects a larger volume.
| King Cobra | Black Mamba | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ophiophagus hannah | Dendroaspis polylepis |
| Lifespan | about 15–20 years estimated in the wild | 11 years or more longest commonly recorded; true wild lifespan is unknown and may be longer |
| Weight | 5–9 kg (11–20 lb) | about 1–1.6 kg (2.2–3.5 lb) |
| Size | 3–4 m (10–13 ft) (length) | 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) (length) |
| Top speed | — | about 16 km/h (10 mph) |
| Gestation / incubation | 60–90 days | 60–90 days |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
| Family | Elapidae | Elapidae |
| Habitat | Tropical rainforest, Bamboo thickets, Mangrove swamps, Forest streams, Tea and palm plantations | Savanna, Open woodland, Rocky hills, Riverine forest, Scrub |
| IUCN status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Figures shown are for the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and the black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis).
Key differences
Range
The two never meet. King cobras live in South and Southeast Asia, from India through southern China to Indonesia and the Philippines, mostly in forests, bamboo thickets and plantations near water. Black mambas live in sub-Saharan Africa, in savanna, rocky hills and open woodland, often sheltering in termite mounds, hollow trees or rock crevices.
Diet
The king cobra's genus name, Ophiophagus, means 'snake-eater.' It feeds mainly on other snakes, including rat snakes, pythons and venomous species such as kraits and true cobras, plus the occasional monitor lizard. Black mambas eat warm-blooded prey: rodents, squirrels, hyraxes, bushbabies and birds, which they bite, release and then track down.
Appearance
A king cobra is olive, brown or black, often with pale yellowish crossbands, and has a pair of large scales at the back of the head found on no other snake. Black mambas are not black. They are gray, olive or brownish with a pale belly, and the name comes from the inky black lining of the mouth.
Threat display
A threatened king cobra lifts the front third of its body off the ground, spreads a long, narrow hood and gives a deep, growling hiss. It can move forward while standing tall. A cornered black mamba also rears up, flattens its neck into a slight hood, gapes to show its black mouth and may strike repeatedly.
Nesting
The king cobra is the only snake known to build a nest. The female gathers leaf litter into a mound with coils of her body, lays her eggs inside and stays to guard them until shortly before they hatch. A female black mamba lays her eggs in a burrow or termite mound and leaves.
Classification and status
Despite its name, the king cobra is not a true cobra of the genus Naja. It sits in a genus of its own. The black mamba is one of four mamba species in the genus Dendroaspis, and the other three are green tree-dwellers. The king cobra is listed as Vulnerable; the black mamba is of Least Concern.
How to tell them apart
- A long, narrow hood spread on a tall raised body means king cobra.
- An inky black mouth interior shown in a gaping threat is unique to the black mamba.
- Black mambas have a distinctive coffin-shaped head and a plain gray or olive body with no bands.
- Geography decides it in the wild: Asia means king cobra; Africa means black mamba.
What they have in common
Both snakes belong to the family Elapidae, along with coral snakes, kraits and sea snakes. They share short, fixed, hollow fangs at the front of the mouth and venom dominated by neurotoxins that block nerve signals and can stop breathing. Both are long, slender, alert, active by day and lay eggs. Both prefer to escape and bite people only when cornered or surprised.
Frequently asked questions
Who would win, a king cobra or a black mamba?
The question is hypothetical, since they live on different continents, but the king cobra would be favored. It is longer, heavier and a specialist hunter of other snakes, with some resistance to the venom of snakes it eats. A mamba's speed would not change that it is suitable prey for a king cobra.
Which is more venomous, the king cobra or the black mamba?
The black mamba's venom is more toxic by weight and acts very quickly. The king cobra's venom is less potent per drop, but it can deliver a very large quantity in a single bite. Untreated bites from either snake are frequently fatal, and both require urgent antivenom.
Which is more dangerous to humans?
The black mamba is generally considered more dangerous. It lives closer to people in many parts of Africa, is nervous and quick to defend itself, and its fast-acting venom leaves little time to reach treatment. King cobras are shy, and confirmed bites are relatively uncommon given their wide range.
Is the black mamba the fastest snake in the world?
It is widely regarded as the fastest land snake. It uses that speed to escape, not to chase people, despite its reputation. Stories of mambas outrunning horses are myths. The comparison table above lists the top speed recorded for each species.