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How do king cobras differ from other cobras?

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timber rattlesnake — snake Timber rattlesnake (*Crotalus horridus*).

King cobras differ from other cobras in several distinct ways:

Physical Characteristics: The most notable feature distinguishing king cobras is the presence of 11 large scales on the crown of the head. They are also the world’s largest venomous snakes, reaching lengths of up to 5.6 metres (18 feet).12
Dietary Habits: While many cobras have varied diets, king cobras (genus Ophiophagus) prey almost exclusively on other snakes.21
Reproductive Behavior: King cobras exhibit unique breeding behaviors. Unlike many other cobras, the female king cobra constructs a nest mound out of leaves and ground litter to house her eggs. Furthermore, the female—and sometimes the male—remains near the nest to guard the eggs for approximately two months, displaying aggressive defensive behavior if approached.21
Classification: King cobras belong to the genus Ophiophagus, whereas many other common cobras belong to the genus Naja.21

While king cobras share the characteristic hood-spreading defense posture with other cobras, their specific nesting habits and specialized diet set them apart within the family Elapidae.21