Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi)
Colubrid Family (Colubridae)
The eastern indigo snake is a non-venomous, iridescent blue-black to black, glossy, large, thick-bodied snake, frequently reaching well over 6 feet long. The chin, throat, and sometime the side of head are reddish to orange to brownish, while the belly is cloudy orange to blue-gray. The scales are mostly smooth. The juveniles are lighter than adults with narrow whitish blue bands or speckles or blotches. It is usually docile, but may flatten neck vertically and hiss if threatened. Found in the lower coastal plain from Mississippi to South Carolina, though mostly just in Georgia and Florida now. It can occur in sandhills, scrub, pine flatwoods, hardwood forests, moist hammocks, prairies, around cypress ponds, and human-altered habitats. It seeks refuge in gopher tortoise burrows, hollow logs, stump holes, and armadillo burrows. Though it prefers well-drained, sandy habitats, it frequently forages in more hydric habitats, especially during the summer. It breeds from November through April. Listed as threatened federally and in FL, GA, SC, endangered in MS, and a state protected species in AL.
Copyright Brett Miley
