Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Eastern Indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae

Listing Status:   

General Information

Average adult size is 60-74 inches (152-188 cm), record is 103.5 inches (262.8 cm). Adults are large and thick bodied. The body is glossy black and in sunlight has iridescent blue highlights. The chin and throat is reddish or white, and the color may extend down the body. The belly is cloudy orange and blue-gray. The scales on its back are smooth, but some individuals may possess some scales that are partially keeled. There are 17 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juveniles are black-bodied with narrow whitish blue bands.

Lead Region:  Southeast Region (Region 4)
Date Listed: Mar 3, 1978

  • States/US Territories in which the Eastern Indigo snake is known to occur:  Florida , Georgia
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Eastern Indigo snake is known to occur:  ARTHUR R. MARSHALL LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CHASSAHOWITZKA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CROCODILE LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , FLORIDA PANTHER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , HOBE SOUND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title
09/08/2006 71 FR 53127 53129 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 14 Southeastern Species
01/31/1978 43 FR 4026 4029 Final Determination of Threatened Status for the Eastern Indigo Snake
08/01/1977 42 FR 38921 38924 Proposed Threatened Status for Eastern Indigo Snake; 42 FR 38921 38924 (Dyrmarchon corais couperi)

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
04/22/1982 Eastern Indigo Snake View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
09/08/2006 71 FR 53127 53129 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 14 Southeastern Species
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    04/29/2008 Eastern Indigo Snake 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Eastern Indigo snake.

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 5 of 19 : view all)
    HCP Plan Summaries
    Atlantis at Tequesta
    Big Pine Key Deer
    Cavalear Co. (Cloisters)
    City of Palm Bay
    Heron's Cove
    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
    SHA Plan Summaries
    GA DNR Statewide RCW HCP & SHA - Amendment #2

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the Eastern Indigo snake.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 21, 2009