Indigo snakes lose more than 5% of their habitat each year in Florida (Kendrick and Mengak 2010). 0000006427 00000 n 0000005480 00000 n comm. HABITATLongleaf pine forest, xeric pinelands, tropical hardwood hammocks, upland scrubs, wet prairies. Since the indigo snake is a commensal of the gopher tortoise, females usually deposit their eggs in gopher tortoise burrows. Immediate research and/or conservation action required. 0000501878 00000 n The eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) is a large, black, non-venomous snake found in the southeastern United States.Reaching lengths of almost 9 feet, it is the longest native snake in the United States. The carnivorous species derives its name from its iridescent underside. The Eastern indigo snake’s diet primarily consists of a variety of species, including small mammals, birds, toads, frogs, turtles and their eggs, lizards, and small alligators (National Park Service, n.d.). Indigo snake is a species of nonvenomous snake belonging to the colubrid family, found only in the eastern United States. 0000003133 00000 n Eastern indigo snakes range from extreme southwestern South Carolina south through Florida and west to southern Alabama and southeastern Mississippi. Fast Facts. As a species that often occupies gopher tortoise burrows, indigo snakes face being injured by people hunting for rattlesnakes in the burrows. Photo Credit: Dan Hipes Eastern indigo snake brochure. Copyright 1999 - 2021 State of Florida. 0000007329 00000 n Hollowed lo… 0000029672 00000 n 0000550482 00000 n Generally blue-black outer surface and flanks with some individuals exhibiting reddish-orange to tan on the cheeks, chin and throat. Photographs should be included to verify species identification. 0000659814 00000 n 0 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION Nonvenomous, large-bodied, glossy, iridescent bluish-black snake with smooth scales. Gopher tortoises cover the entire range of the indigo snake but they also spread a little bit further east and west of Georgia. Females may have the ability to hold sperm, which would allow them to defer fertilization of an egg. They can be found throughout Peninsular Florida and southeastern Georgia (Florida Museum of Natural History, n.d.). 0000646592 00000 n 0000017937 00000 n What is the habitat of the eastern indigo snake? The eastern indigo snake is especially associated with the well-drained soils of sandhill habitats in Florida. 0000464322 00000 n 0000561443 00000 n You can see drift fences in action in the stories we’ve done on striped newts releases. 0000037239 00000 n 0000022932 00000 n 0000042275 00000 n The sides of the head and chin are typically reddish orange but can … The OISP provides a place where Eastern Indigo Snakes, Gopher Tortoises and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes can survive forever. 0000561404 00000 n Indigo snakes begin breeding between the months of November and April and nest between the months of May and August. Reports of these species observed in other states will be accepted. Habitat. See more ideas about snake, indigo, reptiles. Historically, Eastern indigo snakes were found in the coastal plain regions of Southern Georgia, Alabama, Southeast Mississippi and Florida. Most adult eastern indigo snakes are about 60-82 inches (152-213 cm) in total length. Eastern Indigo Snake / Gopher Tortoise Bauder, J.M., D.J. Indigo snake eats banded water snake in a steephead ravine. In more northerly portions of the range the indigo snake occupies sandhills during the winter, using gopher tortoise burrows as a retreat from cold temperatures. 0000507369 00000 n They prefer a habitat close to water with plentiful available cover, often nesting in underground burrows. In fact, these snakes are a federally threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. These large and thick-bodied snakes are glossy black and have iridescent purple or blue highlights when viewed in sunlight. Habitat fragmentation is also a threat as increased housing and road development can separate their habitat into smaller individual habitats. Indigo snakes rarely bite if handled, but even then, the bite poses little danger since the snake has no venom. Certain individuals may also have patches of red on their chin. 0000937643 00000 n They also occupy various types of agricultural lands. Retrieved May 23, 2011, from Everglades National Park:http://www.nps.gov/ever/naturescience/easternindigosnake.htm, Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce. The Middle American indigo snake (Drymarchon melanurus), also known commonly as the blacktail cribo, is a species of large, nonvenomous, snake in the family Colubridae.The species is endemic to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.In addition to the nominotypical subspecies, it has four other recognized … Females lay from 4 to 12 eggs. Drymarchon couperi. Living with SnakesScholarly Article: The Historical and Current Distribution of the Eastern Indigo SnakeFlorida Museum of Natural HistoryFlorida Natural Areas InventoryNational Park ServiceSmithsonian Marine Station at Fort PierceUniversity of Georgia - Featured Herp in the Big Cypress National PreserveU.S. There are about 7 different known related species/subspecies in the genus of the Indigo - the Drymarchon, all scattered throughout the Americas, from the southern part of the US to South America. From the southern parts of south Texas extending up to Veracruz in Mexico. Stevenson, C.S. Eastern indigo snakes inhabit a wide variety of habitats that vary depending upon geographic location and seasonal changes. The main threats facing the Eastern indigo snake is habitat destruction, fragmentation, and degradation. Eastern indigo snakes occupy a wide range of habitats including scrub, tropical hardwood hammocks, pine flatwoods, prairies, coastal dunes, and the edges of freshwater marshes and cypress ponds. 0000620633 00000 n Widely regarded as one of the most intelligent snakes in the world, the Eastern Indigo has been the object of fascination for snake keepers for decades. 0000626254 00000 n The Eastern indigo snake is protected as a Threatened species by the Federal Endangered Species Act and as a Federally-designated Threatened species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule. Conservation status. Found in Texas and almost everywhere in Mexico, the Texas Indigo Snake is a large size snake that is a member of the colubrid family. 0000646402 00000 n 0000008848 00000 n As such, a Federal Permit is required to move these snakes across state lines. The Eastern indigo snake is classified as a threatened species, mainly due to loss of habitat. Threats to the snake included loss of habitat, which continues today, and over-collection for the pet trade. 0000030634 00000 n 0000031234 00000 n 0000660988 00000 n 0000545021 00000 n 0000652053 00000 n 0000007876 00000 n The eastern indigo snake is especially associated with the well-drained soils of sandhill habitats in Florida. 0000457820 00000 n 0000030364 00000 n They are non-venomous and have been declared as a threatened species by the US state of Texas. 0000008522 00000 n It is widely distributed throughout central and South Florida, but primarily occurs in sandhill habitats in northern Florida and southern Georgia. 0000583500 00000 n This action usually causes death to other species in the burrow including Eastern indigo snakes. 0000030166 00000 n Historically reported from Southern Pine Plains and Hills in Mobile, Baldwin, and Covington Counties in extreme southern Alabama, but not … Protecting the Eastern Indigo In 1978, eastern indigos were federally listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Parthenogenesis (a form of asexual reproduction) may also be possible with Eastern indigo snakes, as some virginal snakes have been seen laying eggs (Kendrick and Mengak 2010, Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, n.d.). They are also exothermic species – their body temperature is externally regulated. 0000464693 00000 n Sutherland, and C.L. Fish and Wildlife ServiceZoo AmericaPrintable version of this page, Florida Natural Areas Inventory. The partners have worked together for decades to restore and manage the habitat required by the snake, and many other species, to make the release possible. Xeric slash pine plantations seem to be preferred over undisturbed longleaf pine habitats. It was first described in 1842 by American zoologist and herpetologist, John Edwards Holbrook. 0000036819 00000 n 0000620080 00000 n 0000626946 00000 n Bok Tower, a local nature conservatory located in Lake Wales, Florida, has about 12 indigo snakes on the property. When approached, the Eastern indigo snake shows no aggression (L. Nester pers. After hearing of the decline of the indigo snake, I knew I wanted to help out in saving this species. 0000459895 00000 n Habitat Requirements. They inhabit flatwoods, hammocks, dry glades, stream bottoms, cane fields, riparian thickets, and … Southern South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama. Preservation of these habitats is the best assurance of the continued existence of the snake within these park areas. Habitat degradation is also a result from this action. Among those species are the Yellowtail, Orizaba, Mexican Redtail, Eastern Indigo, Unicolor, Blacktail, and Margarita Island. Drymarchon Couperin. 2017—Reintroduction efforts begin in the Florida panhandle. 0000583461 00000 n Currently there is a paucity of data relating to populations in the southern portion of this species range, which are believed to be different from OTHER NAMES: Blue Indigo Snake, Gopher Snake, or Bull Snake. Eastern indigo snakes inhabit pine flatwoods, hardwood forests, moist hammocks, and areas that surround cypress swamps. 0000000016 00000 n IV Abstract The Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) is a species that is federally threatened primarily because of habitat loss and fragmentation. Young hatch in about 3 months, usually in August and September. Eastern indigo snakes inhabit a wide variety of habitats that vary depending upon geographic location and seasonal changes. The eastern indigo snake is a large, black, non-venomous snake found in the southeastern U.S. Scientific Name. Basic description. They can be found throughout Peninsular Florida and southeastern Georgia (Florida Museum of Natural History, n.d.). 0001223488 00000 n AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – The Eastern indigo snake, one of the longest snakes native to the United States, calls the Southeast home. Their preferred environment includes pine and scrubby flatwoods, pine rocklands, sandhills, dry prairie, edges of freshwater marshes, agricultural fields and human-altered habitats. 0000029886 00000 n The … 0000005797 00000 n 0000459597 00000 n Females lay 4-12 eggs yearly or bi-yearly, with the eggs hatching 90 days after being laid. 0000031817 00000 n NON-VENOMOUS Other common names. 0000627021 00000 n Due in large part to habitat fragmentation in their native environment in the southeast, the Eastern Indigo is a protected species. <<5D9E039B7CB90B459F9B188B9D7374E1>]/Prev 1402615>> FWC wants to know more about the Eastern Indigo Snake, a federally threatened species. 0000550521 00000 n 0000620558 00000 n The eastern indigo snake is a diurnal species. The U.S. FWS's Threatened & Endangered Species System track information about listed species in the United States Federal Recovery PlanFederal Fact SheetReference Materials. 0000654188 00000 n 0000446228 00000 n Pursuant to section 120.74, Florida Statutes, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has published its 2019 Agency Regulatory Plan. Eastern indigo snake. 0000047495 00000 n Its color is uniformly a lustrous black, although the chin, throat, and sometimes the cheeks may be red to creamy in color. 176 0 obj <> endobj […] Scientific Facts. Unfortunately, this staple reptile’s survival is at risk, especially in Alabama. 0000627223 00000 n PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION Nonvenomous, large-bodied, glossy, iridescent bluish-black snake with smooth scales. The Eastern indigo snake is oviparous. 0000456233 00000 n 0000545060 00000 n hބ��KTQ���F� �k���(A�хd�G�"�4�N�x�ō����$M� Ha�1"�� ����6nfg A��C \�������8@D��WNn�����P���F^ns���ņ�X"����/� �խ��Ͼ;���d�h:���L��F6J%L�65sJng�d���i3k9� mn�'��(Y_�����=���9�u�P�gx�9>���,���+r�z9�.�]�C:p�˭Hm1���8��ڜ�ի�"^�{�)�B�����#"��=�C��ƅ��ݴ���"-�{�z� y�Y�Q�¸VȘ�.�=j��l�5����z&�]Pc�)_� 7Y`W From December to April, eastern indigo snake… The species prefers upland habitat types (e.g. 0000036377 00000 n Photo: Pete Oxford Description Taxonomy Distribution Habitat Movement Diet Reproduction Map Description Eastern Indigo Snakes are one of the largest snakes in North America, reaching a maximum total length of 2.6 meters (8.58 feet). %PDF-1.4 %���� 0000036597 00000 n Females lay their eggs from May to June. Please report sightings through the Florida Rare Snake Registry, where other rare upland snake species (Southern Hognose Snake, Florida Pine Snake, Short-tailed Kingsnake) can also be reported. 0000507330 00000 n However, indigos can also be found in a range of other habitat types including flatwoods, hammocks, upland pine and scrub and even working lands. 0000652014 00000 n 0000037029 00000 n 0000465137 00000 n 0000632636 00000 n Eastern indigo snakes are the longest native snake in North America! Other threats include pollutants, vehicle strikes, captures for domestication, and intentional killings (Kendrick and Mengak 2010, Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001). Retrieved May 23, 2011, from The Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Park Service. 0000640102 00000 n Gulf coast indigo snake, Indigo Snake, Racer. Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule, Scholarly Article: The Historical and Current Distribution of the Eastern Indigo Snake, Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, University of Georgia - Featured Herp in the Big Cypress National Preserve, http://www.fnai.org/fieldguide/pdf/drymarchon_couperi.pdf, http://www.nps.gov/ever/naturescience/easternindigosnake.htm, http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/drymar_couper.htm, See a full list of our Social Media accounts. 0000646327 00000 n 0000006315 00000 n Written By: Spencer Schultz The Indigo is a beautiful black snake that has an iridescent blueish tint in the sun and a brown or orange chin. 0000004914 00000 n 0000461683 00000 n 0000572326 00000 n Currently, they are found in parts of Southern Georgia and Florida. Speake and others recommend protecting several thousand hectares of prime eastern indigo snake habitat to ensure the snakes' year-round needs are met. 0000572365 00000 n 0000661562 00000 n 2011). Retrieved May 23, 2011, from North American Mammals:http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/drymar_couper.htm, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission • Farris Bryant Building 0000566904 00000 n Diet. 0000457944 00000 n Diet. I will not sell these snakes outside of California without the proper permits. Eastern indigo snakes need a … Their scientific name is derived from the Greek word, “ drymos”, which means “forest” and “couperi”, which means “lord”. 0000002636 00000 n 0000461026 00000 n Typically, these snakes live in longleaf pine ecosystems within the coastal plain and adjacent drainages. It is a long nonvenomous snake endemic to the southeastern United States. 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School of Forestry and Natural Resources, National Park Service supporting a viable population little introduction Preserve! Around ponds, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas conservatory located in Lake Wales, Statutes. Snakes outside of California without the proper permits they can be found throughout Peninsular and! Tortoises and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes can survive forever a habitat close to water with plentiful available,! Wild specimens measuring 2.4 m. ( 7.83 ft. ) or longer have been declared as a species of snake. Eastern United States well-drained soils of sandhill habitats in northern Florida and southeastern Georgia ( Florida of., indigo snake, Racer john: the indigo snake is habitat destruction fragmentation. Been learned from numerous studies $ 100 and requires a 2-3 month wait soils of sandhill habitats in.. Are mostly red or brown, but primarily occurs in sandhill habitats in Florida stories we ’ ve on... Snake within these Park areas Wildlife conservation Commission has published its 2019 Regulatory...