Drymarchon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Drymarchon |
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| Drymarchon couperi, eastern indigo snake | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Genus: | Drymarchon Fitzinger, 1843 |
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See text. |
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Drymarchon is a group of very large, non-poisonous snakes. They are often called indigo snakes or cribos. You can find these amazing snakes in the southeastern United States, Central America, and South America. They can grow to be over 3 meters (about 10 feet) long! This makes them some of the biggest snakes in the world that are not venomous.
About Indigo Snakes
Indigo snakes are big and strong. They can grow to be more than 3 meters (10 feet) long, including their tails. Their scales are smooth and shiny. They come in different colors, but many are a beautiful glossy blue-black. The name Drymarchon actually means "Lord of The Forest." This name fits them well because they are so large and impressive.
What Indigo Snakes Do and Eat
Indigo snakes are active during the day. This means they hunt for food when the sun is out. They eat many different small animals. Their diet includes small rodents like mice, birds, lizards, and frogs or toads. They even eat other snakes, including dangerous rattlesnakes!
These snakes are usually not aggressive. They will only bite if they feel threatened or scared. If an indigo snake feels in danger, it might hiss loudly. It might also shake its tail as a warning. This tells you to give it space.
Types of Indigo Snakes
For a long time, people thought there was only one type of Drymarchon snake. But now, scientists recognize six different kinds, or "species," of indigo snakes. One of these species also has several "subspecies." Subspecies are like different versions of the same animal.
Here are the main types of Drymarchon snakes:
- Indigo snake (also called yellow-tailed indigo snake) — Drymarchon corais
- Falcon indigo snake — Drymarchon caudomaculatus
- Eastern indigo snake — Drymarchon couperi
- Margarita indigo snake — Drymarchon margaritae
- Middle American indigo snake — Drymarchon melanurus
- Black-tailed cribo — Drymarchon melanurus melanurus
- Texas indigo snake — Drymarchon melanurus erebennus
- Orizaba indigo snake — Drymarchon melanurus orizabensis
- Mexican red-tailed indigo snake — Drymarchon melanurus rubidus
- Unicolor cribo — Drymarchon melanurus unicolor
See also
In Spanish: Drymarchon para niños
