Ophiophagus bungarus
The Sunda king cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus) is a venomous snake-eater of Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Bali, separated from O. hannah in 2024.
PANDUANHEWAN · INDONESIA
Sunda king cobra vs Javan spitting cobra: the differences
How do the Sunda king cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus) and Javan spitting cobra (Naja sputatrix) differ? Classification, features, range, diet, size, IUCN status and legal protection, from cited sources.
The Sunda king cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus) and the Javan spitting cobra (Naja sputatrix) share the family Elapidae but belong to different genera: Ophiophagus and Naja. Range in Indonesia — the Sunda king cobra: Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Bali and nearby islands; the Javan spitting cobra: Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara (Lombok to Alor).
Naja sputatrix
The Javan spitting cobra (Naja sputatrix) is a venomous spitting cobra of Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara that often turns up around homes.
Sunda king cobra and Javan spitting cobra compared
| Aspect | Sunda king cobra | Javan spitting cobra |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ophiophagus bungarus | Naja sputatrix |
| Indonesian name | King kobra | Ular kobra Jawa |
| Class | Reptilia | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata | Squamata |
| Family | Elapidae | Elapidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Bali and nearby islands | Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara (Lombok to Alor) |
| Endemic to Indonesia | No | Yes |
| Key features | Adults mostly plain brown; juveniles with 57–87 pale bands | Spoon-shaped hood; can spray venom |
| Size | — | Average 130 cm, up to 180 cm |
| Diet | Mainly other snakes, including rat snakes, pythons and cobras | Rats, lizards, frogs, birds and other snakes |
| Diet type | carnivore (meat-eater) | carnivore (meat-eater) |
| Reproduction | laying eggs (oviparous) | laying eggs (oviparous) |
| IUCN status | — | Least Concern |
Every cell comes from the sourced data on each animal’s page; an empty cell means the data is not yet available, not that it is absent.
How to tell them apart
- Sunda king cobra: Adults mostly plain brown; juveniles with 57–87 pale bands.
- Javan spitting cobra: Spoon-shaped hood; can spray venom.
Telling animals apart never replaces keeping your distance. Do not approach, catch or handle wild animals; if bitten, go to a health facility immediately.
Sources
- European Journal of Taxonomy — Das et al. (2024), Taxonomic revision of the king cobra Ophiophagus hannah species complex ↗
- The Reptile Database — Ophiophagus bungarus ↗
- Mongabay — Four of a kind: King cobra is a quad of species, not one, study finds (2024) ↗
- Mongabay Indonesia — Ular King Cobra Resmi Dikelompokkan Menjadi Empat Spesies yang Berbeda (2024) ↗
- Mongabay Indonesia — Urusan King Kobra dan Kobra, Amir Hamidy Pakarnya (2020) ↗
- Media Konservasi — Khoerunisa, Kusrini & Mardiastuti (2021), Diversity of snake rescued from residential areas in Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Area ↗
- WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia — Guidelines for the management of snakebites, 2nd edition (2016) ↗
- Ecology Asia ↗
- Lim, Leong & Lim (2011) The king cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor) in Singapore. Nature in Singapore 4: 143-156, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore ↗
- WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia (2016), Guidelines for the management of snakebites, 2nd ed ↗
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF) ↗
- The Reptile Database — Naja sputatrix ↗
- Mongabay Indonesia — Ular Kobra Masuk Rumah Warga, Fenomena Apa? (2019) ↗
- PubMed — Tan, Wong & Tan (2017), Venomics of Naja sputatrix, the Javan spitting cobra ↗
- Wildlife Preservation Canada ↗
- Auffenberg, W. (1980) The herpetofauna of Komodo, with notes on adjacent areas. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum, Biological Sciences 25(2): 39-156 ↗
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