Snake Problem?
Check for common signs like shed snake skins, and know what to do to help prevent them gaining access to your property
Snakes Species
Snakes are a real threat to people living in Singapore and below are some of the common snakes found here.
Besides the King Cobra, snakes commonly found in Singapore include Paradise Tree Snake, Reticulated Python, Oriental Whip Snake, White-Bellied Blind Snake and Malayan Blue Coral Snake.
King Cobra
(Ophiophagus hannah)
Appearance
- Large powerfully built snake.
- Up to 5.5m in length and 9 kg in weight.
- Varies but mainly olive-green or black coloured with pale yellow cross bands along the body.
- Underbelly may be pale yellow or cream.
- Head of full-grown snake can be massive and bulky.
- King Cobra has proteroglyph dentition — two short, fixed fangs in the front of the jaw channeling venom into the prey.
- Male is much larger than the female.
- Hatchlings are 45–50 cm long and banded in black and white.
Life Cycle
- The mating season is January.
- Female lays up to 50 eggs and coils atop them for 60–80 days incubation period.
- Averagely can live up to 20 years.
Habitat
- Generally its diet is composed of other snakes but may also feed on other small animals such as lizards, birds, and rodents.
- Is shy and avoid humans whenever possible, but are fiercely aggressive when cornered.
- A diurnal species.
- Capable of flattening its upper body by spreading its ribs and forming the distinctive 'hood' about its neck.
- Its venom is primarily neurotoxic which attacks the victim's central nervous system and immediately causes from severe pain, blurred vision, vertigo, drowsiness, paralysis to death.