Black-tailed Indigo snake

indigo snake eating

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Genus: Drymarchon melanurus

If you are afraid of snakes, here is a chance to try and be forgiving or at least respectful. DO NOT kill these! They are immune to the rattlesnake and fer de lance venom therefore they eat them!

Indigo snakes (Drymarchon) are a genus of large non-venomous colubrid snakes found in Southeastern United States, Central America, and South America. Three to four species are currently recognized. Black-tailed Indigo Snakes can be found in a variety of habitats, including open fields and tropical rainforests from the Yucatan Peninsula to Panama. They are large, robust snakes which can reach a length of over 3 m. They have smooth scales with several color variations, including a glossy blue-black color.

The Black-tailed Indigo Snake is a colubrid of the Drymarchon family is a long, slender snake growing from 1.7 meters to 2.2 meters (5.5 to 10 feet) here in Central America. This specie, Drymarchon melanurus, is sometimes considered a subspecie of Drymarchon corais. The snake is an overall coppery color, with distinctive diagonal black lines on the sides of the neck. Downward pointing black lines can be found under the eye as well. The body gradually darkens, which results in a dark to black tail.

Indigo snakes are diurnal and actively forage for prey. They feed on a broad variety of small animals such as rodents, birds, lizards, frogs, toads, and other snakes, including rattlesnakes and fer de lance (barb amarillo). They are not aggressive snakes and will only bite when threatened. Typical threat display includes hissing and shaking of its tail as a warning.

HARMLESS (Non-Venomous). Eastern Indigo Snakes are listed as a Threatened Species by both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.