![]() ![]() It looks like a real mess! But, for our purposes, note these two lines from the listing above: Drymarchon melanurus erebennus (Cope, 1860) – valid – Texas Indigo Snake Smith, 1941 – validĭrymarchon melanurus unicolor H. ![]() Duméril, 1854) – validĭrymarchon melanurus orizabensis (Dugès, 1905) – validĭrymarchon melanurus rubidus H. Duméril, 1854) – valid – Middle American Indigo Snake, Blacktail Criboĭrymarchon melanurus erebennus (Cope, 1860) – valid – Texas Indigo Snakeĭrymarchon melanurus melanurus (Cope, 1860) – invalidĭrymarchon melanurus melanurus (A. Smith, 2016 – valid – Gulf Coast Indigo Snakeĭrymarchon margaritae Roze, 1959 – valid – Margarita Indigo Snakeĭrymarchon melanurus (A. Smith, 1941 – invalidĭrymarchon couperi (Holbrook, 1842) – valid – Eastern Indigo Snake, Blue Indigo Snake, Blue Bull Snakeĭrymarchon kolpobasileus Krysko, Granatosky, Nuñez and D. Smith, 1941 – invalidĭrymarchon corais unicolor H. Boie, 1827) – invalid – Indigo Snake, Yellow-tailed Criboĭrymarchon corais couperi (Holbrook, 1842) – invalid – Eastern Indigo Snakeĭrymarchon corais erebennus (Cope, 1860) – invalid – Texas Indigo Snakeĭrymarchon corais orizabensis (Dugès, 1905) – invalidĭrymarchon corais rubidus H. Boie, 1827) – valid – Indigo Snake, Yellow-tail Criboĭrymarchon corais corais (F. When I selected “scientific name” and typed in “Drymarchon”, here’s what I got:ĭrymarchon Fitzinger, 1843 – valid – Indigo Snakesĭrymarchon caudomaculatus Wüster, Yrausquin and Mijares-Urrutia, 2001 – validĭrymarchon corais (F. Wondering what the deal was, I went to our go-to taxonomic source, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System ( ). I always thought the Eastern and Texas Indigos were subspecies of the same species. The US Fish & Game Wildlife Service places the Eastern Indigo as a subspecies, couperi, of the species Drymarchon corais. And did you notice that Texas Parks & Wildlife called our Indigo a subspecies of the Eastern Indigo? Our Indigo, according to the State of Texas, is a subspecies, erebennus, of the species Drymarchon melanurus. Did you notice the difference in the names? Our Indigo, apparently Drymarchon melanurus erebennus, was not listed. ![]() So, in an abundance of caution I also checked the US Fish & Wildlife Service where, lo and behold, I found the Eastern indigo snake ( Drymarchon corais couperi) listed (see ). As you’ll see later in this blog, the text is wrong on a couple of points and it might have been corrected.) It is listed as threatened in Texas and cannot be hunted or killed.” (As an aside, below that paragraph are some cool photos of an Indigo eating a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake ( Crotalus atrox).) (Another aside: If you are reading this a while from the time that I published it, the text may have changed. Guess what it said?!?! (If you go to the above link, you’ll have to scroll down a bit to see it) “The Texas indigo snake, Drymarchon melanurus erebennus, is a subspecies of the Eastern indigo snake. Then, I went to another Texas Parks & Wildlife page: Here’s a link to the listing, check it yourself: First, I searched the Texas Parks and Wildlife website and didn’t find the Texas Indigo Snake listed as either threatened or endangered. I, too, thought it was considered threatened by both the State of Texas and the US Government. They are non-venomous and have been declared as a threatened species by the US state of Texas.” Note the “threatened” status. Many online resources say something similar to what says, “Found in Texas and almost everywhere in Mexico, the Texas Indigo Snake is a large size snake that is a member of the colubrid family. But first:Ī DISCLAIMER (well…maybe, you’ll have to read more to find out what is it)! Grasslands and brushlands, usually near water.Photo: The head of a large Texas Indigo Snake ( ( Drymarchon melanurus erebennus).Īfter at least 50 years, I finally once again saw a Texas Indigo Snake ( Drymarchon melanurus erebennus) on our farm. Darker barring is usually visible anteriorly Black lines from eye to lower labial (lip) scales. Shiny brownish scales anteriorly shading to black posteriorly. Prey consists of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles (including venomous snakes). Hatchlings (which may be 2 feet long!) may be all dark or strongly patterned with irregular blue flecking. Rather, they grasp and hold prey with their strong jaws and at least partially immobilize it by holding it beneath a coil. Unlike most of the large, heavy bodied snakes in the USA, the indigo snakes are not constrictors. Darker barring is usually visible anteriorly. Long (to 7+ feet), heavy bodied, and variably dispositioned describe this Texan. THIS IS A PROTECTED SPECIES THROUGHOUT ITS RANGE. ![]()
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