Which snake is the only living member of the genus Ophiophagus?

The king cobra is the only living member of the genus Ophiophagus.

Its scientific name, Ophiophagus hannah, means roughly “snake-eating” and reflects the species’ unusual diet. King cobras commonly hunt other snakes, including both nonvenomous species and venomous snakes, although they can also eat lizards and other small vertebrates.

Unlike the true cobras in the genus Naja, the king cobra belongs to a separate lineage within the elapid snakes. It can spread a hood, but its hood is narrower than that of many Naja cobras, and its body is typically longer and more slender.

The species ranges across parts of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Habitat loss, persecution, and collection have affected populations, even though king cobras remain widely recognized in regional folklore and wildlife education.