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Eastern indigo snakes are one of the largest snakes in North America; reaching maximum total length of 2.62 m. Most records of wild specimens 2.4 m or longer have been from southern Florida. The species is fairly stout-bodied and sexually dimorphic in size, with males attaining greater lengths than females. Large males are typically 2.13-2.36 m and weigh 3.2-4.5 kg; while large females seldom exceed 2.0 m and weigh 1.8-2.7 kg.
Eastern indigo snakes are a uniform bluish or gunmetal black both dorsally and ventrally. A wash of orange-red is often present on the chin, sides of the head, and throat. There is some variation in this as in northern Florida; where some populations have black lip scales and a white patch in the center of the throat rather than the orange-red. The orange-red pigment is more prominent in male eastern indigos and may extend onto the belly of some south Florida snakes.
The common name for eastern indigos snakes relates to the large, smooth scales of this species which appear iridescent purple in sunlight. Adult males have partial keels on the scales of the middorsal 3-5 scale rows. Hatchling eastern indigos are sometimes more lighter-colored than adults with evidence of a faint pattern of cream speckling forming faint lateral bands. Drymarchon couperi project orianne eastern indigo snakes global reptile and amphibian conservation georgia conservation groups captive breeding donate now non profit chartiy 501c3 eastern indigo snake |