But as of 2017, the king of North America’s snakes has been returned to its home along the Apalachicola River, to restored longleaf pine habitat, a collaborative effort between the Conservancy and many land, water and wildlife conservation agencies. The snake had not been seen at the Conservancy’s Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve (ABRP) in Florida since 1982. When tortoises were heavily harvested and suffered habitat loss in North Florida, the indigo population was impacted as well. They often return every winter to the same burrow.
Indigos hibernate during cold weather, nestling in gopher tortoise burrows when temperatures reach the 20s. Populations in other parts of the state, although declining, still have strongholds in warmer Central and South Florida, where it rarely drops below freezing. Vehicle strikes on the roadway are also a danger.Įastern indigos have largely been eliminated from North Florida due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Adult indigos may travel a span of three miles during warmer seasons, so large, intact landscapes are essential for the specials survival.įew if any indigos persist in North Florida. Threats to the snake included loss of habitat, which continues today, and over-collection for the pet trade. Roads bisect its territory, and many snakes each year are run over by cars.In 1978, eastern indigos were federally listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Each snake requires a large home range to forage, and urban sprawl is shrinking its usable habitat. Its primary threat is from habitat loss due to human development. The Texas indigo snake is listed as a threatened species by the state of Texas. Hatchlings can be up to 26 in (66 cm) long. Clutches that average 10–12 eggs are laid in the spring, and hatch around 80 days later. erebennus takes place, generally yearly, in the winter. Like many colubrid snakes, it will often shake its tail as a warning – even though it does not possess a rattle. Hence the adage, "If it's an indigo, let it go." It is not a typically aggressive snake, but may bite or release a foul smelling musk from its cloaca if handled or harassed. Because of its aggressive attacks on rattlesnakes, many farmers in southern Texas consider it a useful ally. It will consume almost anything it can overpower and swallow, including mammals, birds, lizards, frogs, turtles, eggs, and even other snakes, including rattlesnakes. erebennus is diurnal, and spend most of its time actively hiding. It dens in burrows left by other animals.ĭ. The Texas indigo snake prefers lightly vegetated areas not far from permanent water sources, but is also found in mesquite savannah, open grassland areas, and coastal sand dunes. Specimens 8 ft (2.4 m) long are not unheard of. It is a large snake, regularly attaining a total length (including tail) beyond 6 ft (1.8 m).
The underside is often a salmon pink color. erebennus is found from southern Texas south into Mexico as far as Veracruz.ĭorsally, the Texas indigo snake is predominantly black in color, with a high sheen which gives its smooth scales a remarkable iridescent hue. The subspecies is native to Texas in the United States and adjacent Mexico.ĭ.
Drymarchon melanurus erebennus, commonly known as the Texas indigo snake, is a subspecies of large, nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae.
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