Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Drymarchon melanurus Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Colubridae Higher classification Drymarchon | |
Similar Drymarchon, Snake, Reptile, Drymarchon melanurus erebennus, Indigo snake | ||
The Middle American indigo snake (Drymarchon melanurus), also known as the blacktail cribo, is a large, nonvenomous, colubrid snake species found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. In addition to the nominotypical subspecies, it has one recognized subspecies, D. m. erebennus commonly known as the Texas indigo snake.
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Description
This is a large species that can grow to lengths from 1.80 m (6 ft) to over 2.40 m (8 ft). This species has predominantly olive-brown glossy scales evolving to black at the tail. The underside is a lighter olive-yellow, olive-tan color. D. melanurus has distinctive dark markings round the eyes, a vertical dark slash just behind the jaw. and a heavy diagonal dark slash on both sides of the neck. The subspecies D. m. erebennus is predominantly solid black, though there can be lighter shaded variations.
Range and habitat
Its range extends from southern Texas southwards through the Gulf Coast of Mexico, the Yucatan peninsula, Guatemala and Belize. On the Pacific coast its range extends from Sinaloa in Mexico, southward to Guatemala, as far as Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. Its elevational distribution goes from near sea level up to around 1,900 m asl (6,230 feet). The subspecies D. m. erebennus is found in southern Texas and southwards into Mexico as far as Veracruz.
Subspecies
There are two recognized subspecies, including the nominate subspecies: