Definition

Noun: 1. A large, venomous snake species: Ophiophagus hannah is the scientific name for the king cobra, a very large and highly venomous elapid snake native to forests from Southeast Asia to parts of the East Indies. It is the world's longest venomous snake.

Usage Notes

• This term is a formal, scientific binomial name (genus and species). It is primarily used in academic, zoological, and herpetological contexts.
• In everyday language, this species is almost exclusively referred to as the king cobra.

Examples

• Scientific Context:
  • The study focused on the venom composition of Ophiophagus hannah.
  • Unlike many other cobras, Ophiophagus hannah primarily preys on other snakes.
• General Context (using the common name):
  • The Ophiophagus hannah, commonly known as the king cobra, can reach over 5 meters in length.

Advanced Usage

• Taxonomic Classification: The name is used in formal taxonomy. Historically, there has been debate about its genus classification, as referenced by "sometimes placed in genus ," but it is now firmly placed in its own genus, .

Variants and Related Words

• King cobra (n): The universal common name for this species.
• (n): The genus name, meaning "snake-eater" in Greek, which describes its diet.
• Elapid (n): The family of venomous snakes (Elapidae) to which it belongs, which also includes cobras, mambas, and coral snakes.

Synonyms

• King cobra
• Hamadryad (an older, less common name)

Related Phrases / Terms

• Venomous snake: A general category to which it belongs.
• Apex predator: In its ecosystem, the king cobra is often an apex predator due to its specialized diet of other snakes.

Noun

1. large cobra of southeastern Asia and the East Indies; the largest venomous snake; sometimes placed in genus Naja