Easten Indigo Snake

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Drymarchon corais couperi

General: The Eastern Indigo Snake averages 6 to 7 feet long, and is a distinct blue/black color except around the head area which is a reddish or orangish color.. It is not venomous and can sometimes be mistaken for a black racer, especially the smaller indigos. The Eastern Indigo Snake is also called Blue Indigo Snake (due to the distinct bluish tint some of them have), gopher snake, and bull snake. It is a member of the colubridae family of snakes.

Diet: The Eastern Indigo will eat any small animal it can capture and kill including other snakes. It is immune to the venom of North American Rattlesnakes and has been known to make a meal of them as well.

Captivity: Eastern Indigo's are federally threatened and require a special permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to transport across state lines. This includes captive bred species. They require a large amount of room owing both to their size and the fact that they need plenty of exercise. For these snakes it is better to have vertical climbing space than horizontal floor space, but don't neglect either.

Range: The Eastern Indigo is found in the south eastern United States, from southern Florida to southern Alabama. It is mainly found in Florida and Georgia though it was once prolific through out the region.