# Eastern Indigo Snake (*Drymarchon couperi*) The Eastern Indigo Snake is one of the longest snakes in North America! They are gentle giants and love to bask in the sun. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Dry uplands and wetlands - **Also known as:** Blue Indigo Snake, Indigo Snake ![Eastern Indigo Snake](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426443/objects/5694.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Indigo Snake is a long, slender snake with smooth, glossy, iridescent black scales covering its entire body. It often has a distinct orange or reddish chin, throat, and sometimes sides of the head, making it visually unique. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Drymarchon ## Interesting facts - Baby indigo snakes are born looking just like mini versions of their parents! - These gentle giants are the longest native snake in the United States! - They sometimes flatten their head and hiss loudly to scare away predators! - Unlike many snakes, they are active during the day, even on hot summer days! ## Special abilities - **Venom Defender:** Eastern Indigo Snakes can eat venomous snakes because they have some immunity to their venom, helping them thrive. - **Mighty Hunter:** Eastern Indigo Snakes have powerful muscles that allow them to constrict and overpower various prey, from small birds to other snakes. - **Home Borrower:** Eastern Indigo Snakes often use burrows dug by gopher tortoises for shelter and warmth, especially during cooler weather. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 170-220 cm - **Weight:** 0.9-4.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-25 years - **Speed:** 2 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-15 - **Incubation:** 90-100 days ## Diet & Feeding A mighty hunter, this snake eats many different animals, even other snakes! - **Primary Foods:** Other Snakes (including venomous), Frogs, Lizards, Small Mammals, Birds, Turtle Eggs - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** [Gopher Tortoise](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-tortoise) (*Gopherus polyphemus*) — Uses their burrows for shelter and overwintering. - **Hunts:** [Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-diamondback-rattlesnake) (*Crotalus adamanteus*) — Preys on this venomous snake, making it a natural controller. - **Hunts:** Green Anole (*Anolis carolinensis*) — Eats lizards found in its habitat. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Dye](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/dye): This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Indigo Snake? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Indigo Snake? 170-220 cm ### How much does Eastern Indigo Snake weigh? 0.9-4.5 kg ### How long does Eastern Indigo Snake live? 15-25 years ### How fast can Eastern Indigo Snake move? 2 km/h ### What does Eastern Indigo Snake eat? A mighty hunter, this snake eats many different animals, even other snakes! ### Where is Eastern Indigo Snake usually found? Dry uplands and wetlands ### How does Eastern Indigo Snake hunt? Pursuit ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Eastern Indigo Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-indigo-snake)