Green Anaconda vs King Cobra
Quick answer
It is too close to call. The Green Anaconda and the King Cobra are evenly matched on paper, and in the wild the outcome would come down to size, surprise, and circumstance.
This is a hypothetical, educational comparison based on typical size, strength, and natural weaponry. In the wild these animals rarely meet, and most encounters end without a fight.
Reptile
Least Concern
Reptile
VulnerableEcology and habitat
Anacondas are Neotropical; king cobras are Asian. Different continents, both apex predators in their systems.
Anacondas constrict warm-blooded prey in water; king cobras strike with fast venom. On land a cobra's mobility and venom threaten an anaconda before constriction begins; in water the snake's swimming bulk reverses odds.
Green Anaconda vs King Cobra compared
| Attribute | Green Anaconda | King Cobra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 70 kg | 9 kg |
| Length | 5 m | 5.5 m |
| Top speed | 8 km/h | 18 km/h |
| Strength | 70/100 | 30/100 |
| Deadliness | 45/100 | 85/100 |
| Intelligence | 16/100 | 45/100 |
| Lifespan | 10 yr | 20 yr |
Green Anaconda vs King Cobra: common questions
Who would win in a fight, a Green Anaconda or a King Cobra?
It is too close to call. The Green Anaconda and the King Cobra are evenly matched on paper, and in the wild the outcome would come down to size, surprise, and circumstance. Anacondas constrict warm-blooded prey in water; king cobras strike with fast venom. On land a cobra's mobility and venom threaten an anaconda before constriction begins; in water the snake's swimming bulk reverses odds.
Which is bigger, the Green Anaconda or the King Cobra?
The Green Anaconda is heavier, weighing around 70 kg compared with the other's 9 kg.
Which is faster, the Green Anaconda or the King Cobra?
The King Cobra is faster, reaching about 18 km/h versus 8 km/h.
Which lives longer, the Green Anaconda or the King Cobra?
The King Cobra typically lives longer, up to around 20 years compared with 10 years.
Venom or constriction?
Venom acts in minutes; constriction suffocates in seconds once coils are set — initiation speed decides many hypothetical outcomes.
Which eats the other?
Large anacondas eat caimans and capybara; king cobras eat snakes — neither routinely preys on the other.
Sources & references
Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; size, weight, speed, and lifespan figures are drawn from Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology) and Nowak, Walker’s Mammals of the World (Johns Hopkins University Press), cross-checked against each species’ own guide. Compare full profiles for habitat, diet, and behaviour:
- Green Anaconda — full guide
IUCN Red List (Least Concern, Eunectes murinus)
- King Cobra — full guide
IUCN Red List (Vulnerable, Ophiophagus hannah)
-
Animal Diversity Web — University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Life-history, morphology, and measurement data for Green Anaconda and King Cobra.
-
Nowak, R. M. (1999). Walker’s Mammals of the World (6th ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press.
Standard reference for body size, weight, and life-span ranges.
-
Global Animal Guide editorial standards
How we research, source, and review wildlife comparisons.
Embed this matchup
Drop this iframe on your site — free for non-commercial use with the visible attribution link intact.