North America's longest native snake at over 9 feet, with iridescent blue-black scales. They eat just about everything including other venomous snakes — and depend entirely on gopher tortoise burrows for winter shelter.

Also called: Indigo, Eastern Indigo

Native status: Native; federally threatened

§ Quick facts

SizeLength 1.5–2.5 m (5–8.5 ft); largest documented 2.8 m
Weight2.3–5 kg (5–11 lb)
LifespanWild 10+ years; captive 25+
OrderSquamata
FamilyColubridae

§ Encyclopedia

The eastern indigo snake is a species of large, non-venomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. Native to the southeastern United States, it is the longest native snake species in the country.

Source: Wikipedia — Eastern indigo snake Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Massive glossy blue-black snake with iridescent purple sheen; orange-red throat and chin; smooth scales.

Similar species. Black Racer (much smaller, dull). Eastern Coachwhip (different pattern). No other US snake is this large and uniformly blue-black.

Voice. Hisses defensively but rarely aggressive.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Other snakes including venomous pit vipers (immune to their venom), frogs, lizards, small mammals, turtles, eggs.

Behavior. Largest native US snake. Federally threatened. Inhabits longleaf pine sandhills; depends on gopher tortoise burrows for shelter and overwintering. Active even on cold winter days. Population reintroductions ongoing in Alabama and Florida.

§ Range

Florida and southeastern Georgia (rest of historic range extirpated)

§ Habitat

Longleaf pine sandhills with gopher tortoise burrows for refugia

§ Threats

Loss of gopher tortoise burrows (their housing!), road mortality, gassing of tortoise burrows for rattlesnakes, illegal collection.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the eastern indigo snake is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support gopher tortoise conservation. Never gas a burrow. Report sightings to USFWS or state agencies.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • USFWS Eastern Indigo Recovery
  • The Orianne Society
  • Central Florida Zoo Conservation
  • IUCN Red List 2007