![]() This is thought to be due to intraspecies competition and combat with the males. Unlike many snakes, mature male indigo snakes are slightly larger than females. The longest recorded specimen measured 2.8 m (9.2 ft) in total length (including tail). This smooth-scaled snake is considered to be the longest native snake species in the United States. This snake received its common name from the glossy iridescent dorsal and ventral scales which can be seen as blackish-purple in bright light. The eastern indigo snake has uniform blue-black dorsal scales, with some specimens having a reddish-orange to tan color on the throat, cheeks, and chin. The eastern indigo snake has a number of common names including indigo snake, blue indigo snake, black snake, blue gopher snake, and blue bull snake. Couper brought Holbrook the type specimen from south of the Altamaha River in Wayne County, Georgia. The specific name is a latinization of the surname of American planter James Hamilton Couper (1794–1866). It is composed of the Greek words drymos (Δρυμός), meaning "forest", and archon (ἄρχων), meaning "lord" or "ruler". The generic name, Drymarchon, roughly translates to "lord of the forest". For many years the genus Drymarchon was considered monotypic with one species, Drymarchon corais, with 12 subspecies, until the early 1990s when Drymarchon corais couperi was elevated to full species status according to the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, in their official names list. The eastern indigo snake was first described by John Edwards Holbrook in 1842. Eastern indigo Taxonomy and etymology Taxonomy Native to the southeastern United States, it is the longest native snake species in the country. Grosse, University of Georgia – edited by J.D.The eastern indigo snake ( Drymarchon couperi) is a species of large, non- venomous snake in the family Colubridae. Southeastern Naturalist 2(3):393-408.Īccount author: Andrew M. Survey and Monitoring of the Eastern Indigo Snake in Georgia. Listed as a federally threatened species in Georgia and Florida,ĭue primarily to habitat loss. Also, these snakes will occasionally feed on young gopher tortoises.Ĭonservation Status: The eastern indigo snake is currently Indigo snakes regularly feed on mammals, birds, frogs and other snakes, including rattlesnakes and cottonmouths. Despite these intimidating acts, the indigo snake rarely bites. When cornered, they may flatten their heads, hiss and vibrate their tails, which produces a rattling sound. Indigo snakes breed in the winter and are more active in cold weather than most other snakes. During the summer they prefer wetland edges where prey is abundant but move to drier habitats in the winter. Habits: Indigo snakes are active strictly by day. During the active season indigo snakes may move long distances and often forage along wetland margins. These snakes use gopher tortoise burrows as shelter during the winter and during the warmer months for nesting and refuge from intense summer heat. In the Southeast, indigo snakes are restricted to areas of xeric pine-oak sandhills, which are usually inhabited by gopher tortoises. were considered to be the same species, D. Until relatively recently, all indigo snakes in the U.S. The closely-related Texas indigo snake ( Drymarchon corais) is found in southern Texas and other subspecies range into Central and South America. Although reported historically from extreme southern South Carolina, indigo snakes have not been confirmed in the state in recent years and the early records are questionable. Range and Habitat: Eastern indigo snakes are restricted to Florida and southern areas of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Indigo snakes are sexually dimorphic, with males growing to larger lengths than females. Juvenile indigo snakes look very similar to adults but have much more red on their heads. The chin and sides of the head are usually colored reddish or orange-brown. It is the longest snake native to the United States, ranging in size from 60-84 inches (152-213 cm), and is entirely shiny bluish-black color, including the belly. Willson unless otherwise notedĭescription: The eastern indigo snake ( Drymarchon couperi) is a massive, black snake. ![]() Eastern Indigo Snake ( Drymarchon couperi)
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