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Eastern Indigo Snake

Drymarchon couperi

Reptile · family Colubridae · order Squamata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G2: imperiled[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Eastern Indigo Snake
Photo: Dirk Stevenson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Threatened[1]
NatureServe global rank
G2 Imperiled[2]
Native in
3 states[3]
Typical length
84 in[4]

The Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) is a reptile in the family Colubridae[5]. It is listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act and is native to Alabama, Florida and Georgia[1][3].

Conservation status

The US Fish and Wildlife Service lists the Eastern indigo snake as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. The listing dates from March 3, 1978[1]. NatureServe ranks it G2 (Imperiled) worldwide and N3 (Vulnerable) in the United States[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at 2500 to 100,000 individuals[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Threatened, listed March 3, 1978
NatureServe global rank[2] G2 (Imperiled)
NatureServe US rank[6] N3 (Vulnerable)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 2500 to 100,000 individuals

Where Eastern Indigo Snake lives

NatureServe lists this snake as native in Alabama, Florida and Georgia[3]. It is ranked as extirpated or possibly extirpated, meaning gone or probably gone, in Mississippi[9]. The Endangered Species Act listing covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi[1]. NatureServe also gives each of these four states its own conservation rank[10]. Most online observation records come from Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas, but these follow where people look and report[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXMSAlabama: native, state rank S1ALGeorgia: native, state rank S2GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: native, state rank S2FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (4 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS1Critically Imperiled
FloridaS2Imperiled
GeorgiaS2Imperiled
MississippiSXPresumed Extirpated

Habitat

NatureServe records several wooded, shrubby and streamside habitat types for this snake[12]. These include pine sandhills, flatwoods, hammocks, coastal scrub, palmetto flats, prairie and wet fields[13]. Sites it uses are often near wetlands and frequently share space with gopher tortoise burrows[13]. Healthy populations need fairly large areas of suitable habitat[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size and diet

The Eastern indigo snake is a carnivore[14]. Its meals include small mammals, birds, frogs, snakes and lizards, plus other backboned animals it can handle[15]. It is an active forager, which means it moves around searching for food instead of waiting[15]. It often searches along the edges of wetlands[15]. NatureServe records a typical length of 213 cm (84 in)[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 213 cm (84 in)
Food habits[14] Carnivore
Migration[16] non-migrant, local migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe describes adults as diurnal, which means active during the day[17]. Its migration category is non-migrant, local migrant, and this can differ between populations[16]. Observation records on GBIF are highest in December, November and January[18]. These counts show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].

January: 77 recordsJanFebruary: 67 recordsFebMarch: 60 recordsMarApril: 43 recordsAprMay: 39 recordsMayJune: 47 recordsJunJuly: 39 recordsJulAugust: 63 recordsAugSeptember: 49 recordsSepOctober: 73 recordsOctNovember: 85 recordsNovDecember: 91 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January77
February67
March60
April43
May39
June47
July39
August63
September49
October73
November85
December91

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Eastern indigo snake endangered?
It is listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, not Endangered[1]. NatureServe ranks it G2 (Imperiled) globally[2].
Where does the Eastern indigo snake live?
NatureServe lists it as native in Alabama, Florida and Georgia[3]. It is ranked as extirpated or possibly extirpated in Mississippi[9].
What does the Eastern indigo snake eat?
Its meals include small mammals, birds, frogs, snakes and lizards, plus other backboned animals it can handle[15].
How big is the Eastern indigo snake?
NatureServe records a typical length of 213 cm (84 in)[4].
When is the Eastern indigo snake active?
Adults are diurnal, meaning active in the daytime[17]. GBIF records are highest in December, November and January[18].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Eastern indigo snake has the status Threatened, listed March 3, 1978 (USFWS ECOS). States in the listed range: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi. USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Eastern Indigo Snake: G2 (Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Eastern Indigo Snake as native in 3 US states and territories: Alabama, Florida, Georgia. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 213 cm (84 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) is a reptile in the family Colubridae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 2500 to 100,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe ranks Eastern Indigo Snake as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Mississippi. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Eastern Indigo Snake (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Eastern Indigo Snake: Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Eastern Indigo Snake: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Eastern Indigo Snake. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Eastern Indigo Snake. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for Eastern Indigo Snake: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  18. GBIF observation records of Eastern Indigo Snake in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Dirk Stevenson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.