A Regal Reptile

A king cobra, the world's longest venomous snake, takes a sniff around at the Bronx Zoo's World of Reptiles. 

King cobras (which smell through their forked tongues) can reach lengths of over 18 feet, fully one third of which it can lift off the ground when threatened. 

In the wild, these natives of South Asia feed almost exclusively on other snake species.  Logging of forests where king cobras live has reduced numbers in recent years.

• Deadly Aim: Cobras Really Do Shoot for the Eyes
• How Does a Snake Swallow a Larger Snake?
• Images: Snakes of the World