The king cobra and lion are two deadly animals. The king cobra has its potent venom the lion has its powerful jaws. Which animal is the most deadly? There is only one way to settle it. King cobra vs lion, who would win in a fight?
King Cobra vs Lion Fact Sheet
| King Cobra | Lion | |
| Size | weight 10 – 14 kg length 3 – 6 m | weight 185 – 225 kg length body 1.8 – 2 m tail 80 – 95 cm height at the shoulder 90 – 120 cm |
| Speed | 12 mph | 50 mph |
| Attack | one bite delivers 400 – 500 mg of venom | bite force 650 psi |
| Defence | defensive position to appear bigger | lives in a pride |
| Special Abilities | most intelligent snake in the world | perfect night vision |
| Habitat | Northern India, Indonesia & Philippines forests and swamps | South Africa savanna |
| Diet | carnivore | carnivore |
| Lifespan | 20 years | 8 – 10 years |
| Predators | mongoose | hyenas and humans |
King Cobra vs Lion Size
A king cobra can weigh between 10 – 14 kg (22 – 30 lb) with a length of 3 – 6 m. An adult male lion weighs 185 – 225 kg (400 – 500 lb) body length of 1.8 – 2 m (5.9 – 6.5 ft), the tail is 80 – 95 cm (31 – 37 in). A shoulder height of 90 – 120 cm (35 – 47 in).
The lion beats the king cobra on size.
King Cobra vs Lion Speed
The king cobra can reach a top speed of 12 mph (19 kph), whereas the lion can run up to 50 mph (80 kph). The lion can only run at this speed for short bursts.
The lion easily beats the king cobra at speed.
King Cobra vs Lion Attack
The king cobra is one of the most dangerous venomous snakes in the world. One bite from its two fangs can deliver 400 – 500 mg of venom, enough to kill 20 people or one full-grown elephant. The toxin can kill a human in 15 minutes and an elephant in a few hours. The poison affects the prey’s respiratory parts of the brain, causing the animal to stop breathing and the heart to stop beating.
The lion has a bite force of 650 psi which it uses to crush its prey’s windpipe. Their canine teeth are 10 cm (4 in) long with claws 4 cm (1.5 in). They are capable of taking down larger prey themselves.
It’s a draw for attack power as both are dangerous predators.
King Cobra vs Lion Defence
The king cobra, when threatened, raises up to one-third of its body off the ground. It spreads its hood with special muscles and hisses loudly. The cobra is the only snake capable of doing this. Lions live in prides of 5 – 40 lions, and when one lion is threatened, all the adult lions in the pride will come to their aid.
The king cobra has the better defence.
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King Cobra vs Lion Special Abilities
The lion can hunt prey at night just as easily as the day, with its night vision six times better than humans. King cobras are the most intelligent snakes in the world. When living in captivity, they can recognise the faces of different handlers.
It’s a draw in special abilities.
King Cobra vs Lion What Are The Differences?
The minor differences between two animals can make a big difference during a fight. The most significant difference is that the king cobra has no legs while the lion gets about on four legs. The lion weighs more and is faster than the king cobra, but a full-grown king cobra can be twice as long as a lion.
King Cobra vs Lion Who Would Win In A Fight?
A king cobra vs lion fight would be decided by the animal that can strike the first blow. The lion has the bite force to kill the cobra, but it would need to ambush the king cobra and land a killing bite straight away on the head or neck. If the king cobra can get into its defensive position, it would be hard for the lion to dodge the cobra’s bite, as just one bite can kill the lion.
In the end, if these two animals met in the wild, they would avoid attacking each other. The king cobra mainly eats other snakes, so it would not see the lion as a meal and would only attack a lion to defend itself. Lions are known to be wary of snakes, so if they found a cobra, they would know best to leave it well alone. But they would never meet as the two animals live on different continents.
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