Indigo snake
Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake
HarmlessDrymarchon corais
6 photographs of the Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake. © Brunno Thadeu.
The Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 21 countries.
- 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 Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake
The indigo snake (Drymarchon corais), also known as the yellow-tail cribo, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. This large colubrid snake is nonvenomous.
Taxonomy
Until recently, all Drymarchon were classified as subspecies of D. corais. However, North and Central populations are now assigned to different species (D. melanurus, D. couperi and D. kolpobasileus), and D. caudomaculatus and D. margaritae are recognised as separate species in South America.
Range
This snake is found in South America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela as well as Trinidad and Tobago.
Diet
The species forages on the ground, sometimes climbing low vegetation. It feeds on a variety of prey species including fish, frogs, reptiles, reptile eggs, mammals, birds and bird eggs.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake
- Is the Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake venomous?
- No. The Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais) 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 Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake dangerous?
- The Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake live?
- The Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake has verified records in 21 countries, including Mexico, Brazil, United States of America. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake?
- Glossy blue-black body, often with a reddish chin.
- How big does the Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake get?
- Very large, up to 8+ ft — the longest native U.S. snake.
- What does the Yellow-tailed Indigo Snake eat?
- The species forages on the ground, sometimes climbing low vegetation. It feeds on a variety of prey species including fish, frogs, reptiles, reptile eggs, mammals, birds and bird eggs.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Central American Indigo SnakeDrymarchon melanurus
Eastern Indigo SnakeDrymarchon couperi
Falcon indigo snakeDrymarchon caudomaculatus
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 corais
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.