key point
- Lions can move much faster than king cobras, and they have several advantages of keen perception.
- While king cobras don’t have the bite force of a lion, their bite releases a nasty, deadly venom.
- Eventually, the lion will be able to ambush the king cobra and attack it with enough force to kill it, probably before the snake can react or bite. But even if the king cobra managed to bite the lion during the encounter, the lion could still kill the snake before the venom could do its job.
Humans tend to refer to animals they consider the most dangerous or dominant as “kings.” That’s how we got the king cobra, even though the snake wasn’t a cobra at all. Humans applied similar logic to lions and called them “kings of the jungle,” even though the mammal lived on the savannah. Imagine these two kings stepping out of their roost to meet in the wild and face off. Which one will win the battle? We’ll examine the king cobra vs lion fight and use the data to show you who will win the fight!
Comparing a King Cobra and a Lion
© AZ-Animals.com
| Cobra | lion | |
|---|---|---|
| size | Weight: 11 lbs – 20 lbs Length: 12ft-19ft | Weight: 264 lbs – 550 lbs Length: 4.7ft – 8.2ft Height: 3-3.9 feet at the withers |
| speed and movement type | – 12 mph – glide along the ground | – 35 mph |
| the senses | – Use Jacobson’s organ to sense chemicals in your surroundings. – King cobras can hear bass in a narrow range – good eyesight | – Amazing déjà vu, especially night vision. – Good sense of smell to be able to smell the marks of other lions. – Good hearing allows them to hear prey from miles away. |
| defense | – good camouflage – King Cobra can escape by hiding in cracks – Scary threat display to defend against attack | – Take pride in digital security – large size – Can run away from enemies quickly |
| offensive ability | – Raises the front of its body a few feet off the ground before attacking, allowing it to deliver venom to vital areas. – The tusks can release up to 1000mg of venom – One bite can kill 11 people | – Sharp claws can tear enemies apart – Claw strikes deliver powerful and surprising blows – A powerful bite can tear bones and tear open prey. |
| predatory behavior | – Predators that lie in wait and attack other animals and reptiles, including other snakes. | – Stamina Predator or Ambush Predator – Work as a team to destroy prey |
Are king cobras and lions predators?
The separation between their natural habitats makes wild encounters between these two species unlikely. King cobras thrive in densely vegetated streams and swamps throughout Southeast Asia. Historically, lions have occupied most of the African continent as well as parts of southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia.
Because nature didn’t pit these two predators against each other, we’ll have to use the facts we have to imagine the outcome.
Where do king cobras and lions live?
The king cobra lives in northern India and as far east as southern China. This also includes Hong Kong and Hainan. They have also been known to slide across the Malay Peninsula, eastwards to western Indonesia and the Philippines. They live in swamps, streams, or open forests.
Almost all lion species can be found in Africa.
How long can a king cobra and a lion live?
King cobras are known to live for about 20 years in the wild. King cobra eggs hatch in summer and spring and hatch in fall. King cobras also have the potential to mate for life.
In the case of a lioness, a lion may only live to be about 15 years old. Male lions have a much shorter lifespan, only about 10 years old.
What is the main difference between a king cobra and a lion?
©iStock.com/Gunther Fraulob
The main differences between king cobras and lions are their shape, size and attack methods. The king cobra is a limbless reptile that uses powerful venom to subdue its enemies and can reach a length of 19 feet, while the lion, a carnivorous mammal that can kill its prey, can reach a length of 8 feet and weigh 550 pounds.
These factors highlight the enormous differences that exist between these animals. However, just a few comparisons are not enough to call a winner. We had to dig deeper into each animal to determine who could kill the other.
What is the key factor in the fight between the king cobra and the lion?
© mrjo/Shutterstock.com
When considering the outcome of a king cobra vs. a lion fight, we must consider typical and specific factors. For example, we need to check the animal’s size, speed and hunting ability, but we also have to consider the effect of the king cobra’s venom on the fight.
We’ll weigh these factors and assign strengths to each creature. When we’ve covered these five data points, we’ll have a pretty good idea of who’s winning this battle.
King Cobra vs Lion: Size
Lions are much bigger than king cobras, but not as long. Lions can weigh up to 500 pounds or more and measure 8.2 feet in length and 3.9 feet at the shoulder. King cobras weigh only about 15 pounds and can reach lengths of up to 19 feet. The king cobra is the longest venomous snake in the world, but it’s still tiny compared to a lion.
In this fight, the Lions have the size advantage.
King Cobra vs. Lion: Speed and Movement
Lions are much faster than king cobras. When lions are close to their prey, they can run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
However, a king cobra can only move at a speed of around 12 miles per hour at most. Even so, their attack speed is very fast, allowing them to attack from a stationary position.
Lions have a speed advantage, but their reflexes are slower than king cobras.
King Cobra vs. Lion: Senses
Lions have incredibly keen hunting senses. They have excellent eyesight, can hear some animals from miles away, and have a sense of smell that helps them recognize when other animals are around.
Lions’ keen senses, combined with impressive speed, give them the upper hand when they are caught by surprise. If a lion stalks a cobra cunningly, it will likely ambush it before the snake can react.
©The Len/Shutterstock.com
Due to its senses, king cobras are also very effective hunters. They mainly use the tongue and Jacobson’s organ along with vision to collect chemical data in the air. While their eyesight isn’t amazing, they can see animals up to about 300 feet away.
Lions have better senses than king cobras.
King Cobra vs Lion: Physical Defense
A lion uses its speed and size to evade its enemies. Additionally, lions live in groups with other lions known as prides, and these extra lions provide protection against most enemies. The king cobra relies on its camouflage and threat display to ward off most enemies. They can also squeeze into small crevices to hide from larger animals and wait for them to pass.
Lions and King Cobras have similar defenses, so it’s a tie.
King Cobra vs Lion: Fighting Tips
Lions rely on their long, sharp claws and teeth to kill their enemies. They can bite the bone of the enemy, ending the battle in an instant. Lions also make powerful, startling slaps with their paws. When hunting, they can go out alone and ambush their prey, or they can use stamina hunting to weaken and consume their proud members of the enemy.
King cobras are ambush predators that have only one method of attack: bite and inject one of the strongest snake venoms into their prey.
Each of these animals is very good at killing other animals, but only the lion is the top predator of the two.
Who will win in a fight between a king cobra and a lion?
©2021 Photography/Shutterstock.com
Lions win the fight against the King Cobra. The Lion has a number of strengths that help it do the job. For one thing, a lion only needs one bite to completely kill a king cobra. At the start of a run, it can easily grab the snake in its claws and bite off its head before the snake can react.
Even if neither animal starts fighting without an ambush, the lion will still win the fight. The king cobra might stand up, wait for the lion to get close enough, and then pounce. Snakes are quick, but a bite won’t kill a lion so quickly.
Humans can live without treatment for up to an hour before the worst symptoms of the venom develop. Lions are much larger than humans, so it may take longer for the venom to harm them. Assuming the king cobra doesn’t bite dryly, the lion will realize the threat the snake poses and use the rest of its time on earth to kill it.
Either the lion has a quick and perfect victory, or the lion kills the cobra and is bitten to death. A king cobra would not bite a lion and run away without fighting back.
next…
Now that you’ve satisfied your curiosity about the imaginary winner of this fight, check out the article below for more bouts between some of nature’s fiercest fighters.
- Sharks vs. Dolphins: Who Will Win in a Fight? – Get the scoop on this brain-to-sea hand-to-hand battle. Read our predictions to see which is more valuable in a fight: the shark’s 4,000 PSI bite force or the dolphin’s superior vision and intelligence.
- Find out who would win in a crocodile vs. tiger fight – what if the tiger challenged the crocodile’s death roll with its 4-inch claws? Find out who we predict will come out on top!
- Python vs Anaconda: Who will win the battle? – The king cobra isn’t the only fearsome snake on Earth. Click here to learn about the differences in size, defenses and strength between these two predatory reptiles.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
