What is the only snake that builds a nest for its eggs?

The only snake known to build a nest for its eggs is the king cobra. Unlike most snakes, which deposit eggs in existing shelters or leave them exposed, a female king cobra gathers dry leaves and forest debris with her body and compacts them into a mound.

The nest is usually built at the base of a tree or among vegetation. It can have separate layers, with the eggs placed in a lower chamber and the female positioned above them. This structure helps insulate the eggs and shields them from heavy tropical rain.

King cobras are scientifically called Ophiophagus hannah, a name meaning “snake-eater.” They are the world’s longest venomous snakes and primarily eat other snakes, including other cobras. The nest-building behavior is unusual because prolonged parental care is rare among snakes; the female may guard the eggs until shortly before they hatch.