Not seeing a Scroll to Top Button? Go to our FAQ page for more info.
Home > Snakes > Indigo Snake

Indigo Snake

Indigo snake is a species of nonvenomous snake belonging to the colubrid family, found only in the eastern United States. The carnivorous species derives its name from its iridescent underside. It happens to be the longest native snake species in the United States. The species is very popular in the pet trade.



    Kingdom Animalia
    Phylum Chordata
    Subphylum Vertebrata
    Class Reptilia
    Order Squamata
    Family Colubridae
    Subfamily Colubrinae
    Genus Drymarchon
    Scientific Name Drymarchon couperi


    Other Names Indigo, blue indigo snake, blue gopher snake, black snake, blue bull snake
    Length Male: 1.2–2.36 m (3.9–7.7 ft)
    Female: 1.1–2 m (3.6–6.6 ft)
    Weight Male: 0.72–4.5 kg (1.6–9.9 lb)
    Female: 0.55–2.7 kg (1.2–6.0 lb)
    Color Generally blue-black outer surface and flanks with some individuals exhibiting reddish-orange to tan on the cheeks, chin and throat
    Distribution Southern South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama
    Habitat Flatwoods, hammocks, stream bottoms, dry glades, riparian thickets, cane fields
    Diet Turtles, lizards, frogs, toads, small birds and mammals, eggs
    Hibernation Fact Do not hibernate
    Venom Fact Nonvenomous
    Breeding Season November to April (mating season); May to June (egg laying)
    Mode of Reproduction Oviparous (egg laying)
    Clutch Size 5 to 6 eggs
    Incubation Period About 3 months
    Reproductive Age 3 to 4 years of age
    Average Lifespan 12 to 21 years (in wild); 16 to 25 years (in captivity)
    IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern

    Indigo Snake Pictures Gallery

    Published on January 16th 2017 by under Snakes. Article was last reviewed on 13th June 2019.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *