Indigo snake
Falcon indigo snake
HarmlessDrymarchon caudomaculatus
3 photographs of the Falcon indigo snake. (c) DAVILA REYES DANIEL, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Falcon indigo snake (Drymarchon caudomaculatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Also called
- Indigo snake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- Very large, up to 8+ ft — the longest native U.S. snake.
- Habitat
- Sandhills, scrub, and pine flatwoods.
- Behavior
- Day-active and non-venomous; eats other snakes, including venomous ones. Federally protected in parts of its range.
- Identify
- Glossy blue-black body, often with a reddish chin.
About the Falcon indigo snake
The falcon indigo snake our Auril (Drymarchon caudomaculatus) is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is found in Venezuela and Colombia.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Falcon indigo snake
- Is the Falcon indigo snake venomous?
- No. The Falcon indigo snake (Drymarchon caudomaculatus) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Falcon indigo snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Falcon indigo snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Falcon indigo snake dangerous?
- The Falcon indigo snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Falcon indigo snake live?
- The Falcon indigo snake has verified records in 1 country, including Colombia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Falcon indigo snake?
- Glossy blue-black body, often with a reddish chin.
- How big does the Falcon indigo snake get?
- Very large, up to 8+ ft — the longest native U.S. snake.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Central American Indigo SnakeDrymarchon melanurus
Yellow-tailed Indigo SnakeDrymarchon corais
Eastern Indigo SnakeDrymarchon couperi
Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis
Common WatersnakeNerodia sipedon
Gopher SnakePituophis catenifer
DeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi
North American RacerColuber constrictor
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Drymarchon
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Drymarchon caudomaculatus
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.