EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE

Drymarchon corais couperi 

IDENTIFICATION:  This is one of the more beautiful snakes found in Florida.  The Eastern indigo is the longest North American snake, with a maximum-recorded length of 2.63-m (8.6-ft.).  The coloration is iridescent black, but the throat is typically red, coral, or white.  Both the color of the throat and the extent of this coloration are extremely variable.  In some individuals, especially in south Florida, a bright red covers the face and throat and may extend several inches onto the belly.  In much of north Florida, indigo snakes show only a light pinkish blush on the throat.  The scales of the indigo snake are smooth, although adult males typically show a partial anterior keel on the scales of the mid dorsal 3 – 5 scale rows.

RANGE AND HABITAT: The Eastern indigo snake occurs in most of Florida and much of southern Georgia, although populations in Georgia and the Panhandle of Florida may be very localized.  There are old records for southeastern Mississippi, extreme southern Alabama, and southern South Carolina, but indigo snakes may no longer occur naturally in those states.  In peninsular Florida, the indigo snake may be found in habitats ranging from mangrove swamps and wet prairies to xeric pinelands and scrub.  In the northern parts of its range, it typically winters in gopher tortoise burrows on the higher sand ridges, although it may forage in more hydric habitats during the warmer months.

REPRODUCTION:  This species of snake breeds in November through April.  Eggs, which are laid during May or June, are large and relatively few in number.  Only five to ten eggs are laid. 

DIET:  The Eastern indigo feeds on toads, frogs, rodents and other snakes, including venomous ones.  It grabs its prey in its powerful jaws and swallows it alive.  It uses its heavy body to hold its prey but does not kill by strangling like snakes that are constrictors.

FUTURE:  The Eastern indigo snake was formerly collected heavily for the pet trade.  Although undoubtedly some illegal collecting continues, the federal threatened listing of the Eastern indigo snake has largely curtailed the commercial collecting of this species.  Also, indigo snakes have been killed as a result of the “gassing” of gopher tortoise burrows, a technique once used widely for collecting rattlesnakes.  “Gassing” is now illegal in Florida, but given the increasing demand for rattlesnakes in the curio and specialty leather trade, this practice probably still continues.  In xeric habitats, especially those in north Florida, the future status of the indigo snake is closely tied to that of the gopher tortoise.  The indigo snake will benefit from efforts to rebuild gopher tortoise populations.  This may require a combination of tortoise restocking and active habitat management (primarily through prescribed fire).  Existing prohibitions against the “gassing” of tortoise burrows should be strongly enforced.

EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE

Our Eastern Indigo Snake was brought to us in September of 2002.  The Indigo is a captive born snake that came to us from California and was bred male.  Eastern Indigo snakes are the largest snake native to North America.  This snake is small right now (only about 2 feet long) but has an incredible appetite and should grow to 6 – 8 feet.

 His diet consists of mice.  He can eat up to three small to medium mice every Sunday.  The Indigo Snake uses its heavy body to hold its prey but does not kill by strangling like snakes that are constrictors.  It grabs its prey in its powerful jaws and swallows it alive.  Afterwards it opens its very large and flexible mouth to gulp down the food whole.  This snake prefers to eat live mice, and will usually eat two mice each week. In the wild they would eat a wide variety of animals including small mammals, amphibians and even other snakes.  They are even immune to the toxin of venomous snakes!

The Indigo was originally found throughout the state, but it is now becoming scarce in some areas due to over-collecting and habitat destruction.  It shares Gopher Tortoise burrows, and those of rattlesnakes and other animals.  It is illegal to capture or own this snake without a permit, and it cannot be sold commercially.

It derives its name from the dark blue iridescence of its large scales.  The blue color is most noticeable just after the snake has shed.  Although The Eastern Indigo is the largest American snake, it is short when compared to the world record Anaconda of South America, which has been measured at 37 feet in length.  This snake is sometimes called the Blue Gopher because it is so often found in burrows of the Gopher Tortoise.  It is also called a Gopher Snake, Blue Indigo Snake, and Blue Bull Snake.

The Eastern Indigo snake's adoptive parents may visit it any day of the year, except major holidays.  The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is open 9am to 5pm Monday through Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday.