King Cobra Vs. Silverback Gorilla: Which Fearless Fighter Wins?

Written by Crystal
Updated: May 19, 2023
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An 18-foot-long king cobra attacks! What happens next? You don’t have a chance of survival if you’re a small mammal. But the game changes if you’re an angry 500-pound silverback gorilla. A fully grown gorilla can lift over 1,700 pounds and have razor-sharp canines. But a king cobra has venom potent enough to kill an elephant.

Who will be the champion in this animal battle match-up? Let’s find out! Read on to discover the outcome of a king cobra vs. silverback gorilla face-off!

King Cobra vs. Silverback Gorilla: Comparing Both Fearless Competitors

Battle FactorsKing CobraSilverback Gorilla
Size10-12 feet (average)
Can reach 18 feet
Longest venomous snake in the world.
5 feet tall
Weighs 400 pounds or more
Speed12 mph25 mph
Predatory BehaviorsCarnivorous
Eats a varied diet, including:
Small rodents
Indian cobras
Lizards
Small birds
Rat snakes
Mainly herbivorous diet. Eats a plant-based diet, including:
Plant stems, fruits, and sometimes insects
Top advantageImpressive length
Hunter’s mindset
Potent venom
Problem-solving skills
Experience fighting
Immense strength

King Cobra: Top Fighting Advantages

king cobra bite

The venom of a king cobra is powerful enough to kill an elephant.

©iStock.com/mrjo2405

The king cobra is a long, venomous snake that lives in Southeast Asia. Their venom is powerful enough to kill a fully-grown elephant. The toxin is specially designed to damage the prey’s nervous system. It’s so powerful it can cause necrosis at the sight of the bite.

Impressive Length and Movements

The snake has the gorilla beat when it comes to length. It’s the longest of all the venomous snakes in the world. King cobras can grow over 18 feet long; that’s as long as a stretch limo! Along with injecting a neurotoxin, these powerful snakes use their long muscly bodies to suffocate their prey.

Once the snake sets out to attack the gorilla, the primate won’t stand a chance at escaping. These long snakes can cover a lot of ground quickly. King cobras can go as fast as 12 miles per hour. They can also climb trees and gracefully swim through the water.

Hunter’s Mindset

Another advantage the cobra has over the gorilla is its hunter’s mindset. Cobras hunt; gorillas forage. Gorillas are expert survivalists, and they’re highly intelligent. But they don’t have the same predatory mindset as their slithery opponent. Gorillas eat a mainly plant-based diet. They don’t have to worry about being stealthy or looking out for sneaky predators. In contrast, cobras always look for their next meal while avoiding becoming a mongoose snack.

Silverback Gorilla: Top Fighting Advantages

Gorilla staring at the camera

The massive silverback gorilla is one of the strongest primates in the world.

©iStock.com/SooniosPro

Silverback gorillas aren’t hunters, but they are fierce fighters. These massive primates are one of the strongest living primates in the world. There are two species of gorillas, the Western and Eastern gorillas. Adult male mountain gorillas have the name silverback because of their silver-colored backs.

Problem-Solving Skills

King cobras are smart, but are they bright enough to outwit a silverback? Gorillas are highly clever and even know how to use tools. The use of tools displays problem-solving and agility skills.

Gorillas use tools sparingly compared to other primates, like chimpanzees. So many plants are available that they don’t need any help finding a tasty meal. The most common tool is to forage for food or check water depth.

Experienced Fighters

Silverback gorillas are highly social creatures. They rarely fight, but when they do, it’s serious. One of the first ways you’ll know a fight is about to happen is by watching their body behavior. An angry silverback will beat its chest, bare its fangs, and vocalize loudly. They’ll even stomp their feet on the ground. It’s the ultimate primate tantrum.

The king cobra better back off when the silverback gorilla begins bearing its fangs. These primates go all out during a brawl, using their teeth, legs, and hands. Their teeth are so sharp they can easily rip through the flesh of another gorilla. Biting the cobra in two will be easy.

King Cobra vs. Silverback Gorilla: Who Will Win?

As powerful as king cobras are, a silverback gorilla could and would easily rip the snake in two.

The silverback gorilla takes the victory! This fierce primate is the strongest and most aggressive fighter. Once the gorilla grabs the snake, it’ll rip its opponent in two. Silverbacks are usually calm, gentle giants, but they jump into action when there’s a threat.

The gorilla had a few top advantages. Powerful muscles give them a deadly punch force. Their teeth are razor-sharp and can tear through flesh. And gorillas have a ton of stamina. They can fight for a while before becoming exhausted. If the smart silverback doesn’t let the snake coil around its body, it’ll win this battle. Even if the king cobra bites the gorilla, the venom would take hours to take full effect.

The king cobra would have a unique advantage if it snuck up on the gorilla. However, the long venomous snake would be quickly outmatched once the fight begins. King cobras are better at taking down other snakes, but not so much primates. Congratulations to the silverback gorilla! These muscly monkeys are serious fighters who go all out in a brawl.

The photo featured at the top of this post is ©


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About the Author

Crystal is a dedicated writer at A-Z Animals, focusing on topics related to mammals, insects, and travel. With over a decade of experience in the world of research and writing, she also fulfills the role of a skilled video and audio engineer. Residing in sunny Florida, alligators are Crystal's favorite animal.

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