![]() Roads bisect its territory, and many snakes each year are run over by cars. Each snake requires a large home range to forage, and urban sprawl is shrinking its usable habitat. ![]() Its primary threat is from habitat loss due to human development. ![]() They are tiny, ranging in size from 20 to 35 inches. The Texas indigo snake is listed as a threatened species by the state of Texas. The tentacled snake is a rear-fanged aquatic snake and is the only snake species with two tentacles at the front of its head. Hatchlings can be up to 26 in (66 cm) long. Clutches that average 10–12 eggs are laid in the spring, and hatch around 80 days later. erebennus takes place, generally yearly, in the winter. Like many colubrid snakes, it will often shake its tail as a warning – even though it does not possess a rattle. Hence the adage, "If it's an indigo, let it go." It is not a typically aggressive snake, but may bite or release a foul smelling musk from its cloaca if handled or harassed. Because of its aggressive attacks on rattlesnakes, many farmers in southern Texas consider it a useful ally. It will consume almost anything it can overpower and swallow, including mammals, birds, lizards, frogs, turtles, eggs, and even other snakes, including rattlesnakes. Snakes are vilified, but they are an important part of the ecosystem, explained Danielle Walkup, NRI research scientist. erebennus is diurnal, and spend most of its time actively hiding. The Texas A&M University Natural Resources Institute, NRI, a unit of Texas A&M AgriLife, has been doing a lot of work researching three unique snakes the Louisiana pinesnake, the eastern indigo and the massasauga rattlesnake. It dens in burrows left by other animals.ĭ. The Texas indigo snake prefers lightly vegetated areas not far from permanent water sources, but is also found in mesquite savannah, open grassland areas, and coastal sand dunes. Specimens 8 ft (2.4 m) long are not unheard of. It is a large snake, regularly attaining a total length (including tail) beyond 6 ft (1.8 m). The underside is often a salmon pink color. Taking of eastern indigo snakes is prohibited by the Endangered Species Act without a permit is defined by the USFWS as an attempt to kill, harm, harass, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, trap, capture, collect, or engage in any such conduct. erebennus is found from southern Texas south into Mexico as far as Veracruz.ĭorsally, the Texas indigo snake is predominantly black in color, with a high sheen which gives its smooth scales a remarkable iridescent hue. The subspecies is native to Texas in the United States and adjacent Mexico.ĭ. The Texas Indigo Snake is non-venomous and not usually aggressive, but may bite vigorously and release a foul smelling musk from its rear if handled.Drymarchon melanurus erebennus, commonly known as the Texas indigo snake, is a subspecies of large, nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. Southern Texas, and south into Mexico as far Veracruz. ![]() The Texas Indigo snake is found in grassland, coastal sand dunes, lightly vegetated areas near permanent water, Shelters in burrowsĮats small mammals, birds, lizards, frogs, turtles, eggs, other snakesĬlutches that average 10-12 eggs are laid in spring. The Indigo Snake is active during the day and forages for anything small enough to eat including other large snakes. The chin and sides of the head are reddish-brown. The underside is gray or may be a salmon pink color. The Texas Indigo Snake is mainly black with shiny iridescent scales. ![]()
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