King Cobra

# Evolutionary Timeline of the King Cobra The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is a highly specialized venomous snake with a rich evolutionary history rooted in the diversification of elapid snakes. Evolving from early lizard-like ancestors, it adapted to forested environments in Southeast Asia, facing pressures like competition for prey and predation risks. Key evolutionary drivers include the development of potent venom for subduing other snakes (ophiophagy) and increased body size for dominance. ### Key Milestones - **Cretaceous Period ( ~100-120 million years ago)**: Origin of snakes from burrowing lizard ancestors, with early adaptations for limbless locomotion. - **Eocene-Oligocene ( ~35-50 million years ago)**: Emergence of venomous colubroid snakes, ancestors to modern elapids, driven by the need for efficient prey capture in changing climates. - **Miocene Epoch ( ~10-20 million years ago)**: Divergence of the genus Ophiophagus from other cobras (Naja), with adaptations for ophiophagy amid tropical forest expansions in Asia. - **Pliocene-Pleistocene ( ~2-5 million years ago)**: Refinement of traits like hood expansion and neurotoxic venom, influenced by glacial cycles and habitat fragmentation. - **Holocene (Present)**: Continued adaptation to human-altered landscapes, with conservation pressures from habitat loss.