NextPrevious

Which snake builds a nest to care for its young?

Generally, snakes show little or no parental care. But a male and female King Cobra—the world’s largest venomous snake—often cooperate to find a safe nesting spot for their young. In April, the female builds her nest of dead leaves by scooping them up with her large body. She then lays approximately 20 to 50 eggs, with an incubation period ranging from 60 to 80 days. The female lies on her nest until just before the eggs hatch, at which point instinct causes her to leave the young so she does not eat them. The male king cobra guards the nesting area until the young hatch.