ARTICLE

Photo Ark: Texas Indigo Snake

Learn more about the Texas indigo (Drymarchon melanurus erebennus), one of North America’s largest snakes.

Grades

4 - 9

Subjects

Photography, Biology, Geography

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Meet the Texas indigo (Drymarchon melanurus erebennus). The species range of the big, nonvenomous snake stretches from South Texas in the United States to the northern parts of Mexico. These snakes eat anything they can catch: mice, birds, lizards, frogs, and other snakes—even rattlesnakes.

Unlike some species of snake, indigos do not depend on the darkness to hunt their prey. They are diurnal and search for food during the day. Despite this, Texas indigo snakes are not always out in the open and often find shelter in shade or the abandoned burrows of other animals.

Texas indigo snakes are among the largest snakes native to the United States. The record length of an indigo snake is 2.6 meters (8.5 feet)! Both the eastern indigo snake (indigenous to the U.S. state of Florida) and the Texas indigo are classified as threatened species by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Texas indigo snakes are protected in the state of Texas and cannot be hunted or killed.

Articles & Profiles

National Geographic Kids: Awesome 8: Super snakes

abandoned

adjective

deserted.

burrow

noun

small hole or tunnel used for shelter.

diurnal

adjective

active during the day.

prey

noun

animal that is hunted and eaten by other animals.

species range

noun

native, geographic area in which an organism can be found. Range also refers to the geographic distribution of a particular species.

threatened species

noun

organism that may soon become endangered.

venomous

adjective

having to do with venom or organisms that secrete venom.

1. The scientific name of the Texas indigo snake is Drymarchon melanurus erebennus. Drymarchon is the genus, melanurus is the species, and erebennus is the subspecies. What is the difference between genus, species, and subspecies?

Answer

Genus, species, and subspecies are all taxonomic rankings of organisms. Genus and species are the most specific taxonomic rankings of all organisms. Genus is the larger unit. Species that have many common physical or behavioral characteristics share a genus. An organism’s genus and species make up its binomial name, sometimes called its scientific name. Every living thing on Earth, from indigo snakes to human beings, has a binomial name. (We’re Homo sapiens.) Some (not all) organisms have an even smaller taxonomic unit of classification, called a subspecies. All subspecies share common characteristics. Middle American indigo snakes (Drymarchon melanurus) have five subspecies, while human beings have one—we’re Homo sapiens sapiens.

2. Drymarchon, the indigo snake genus, is made up of several species. How do scientists differentiate between genus and species? In other words, what makes a species a species?

Answer

Two individuals belong to the same species if they can breed and create fertile offspring. Texas indigo snakes cannot reproduce with eastern indigo snakes, for instance. They share a genus, but they’re different species.

3. What adaptations do indigo snakes need to live in hot environments like southern Texas and northern Mexico?

Answer

Answers will vary! One common adaptation is the ability to find microclimates, such as caves or burrows, that are cooler than out in the open. The Texas indigo is a large snake and not very proficient at digging its own shelter. Instead, it often slides into pre-made, abandoned burrows left by other desert animals.

Credits

Media Credits

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Writer

Jordan Lim, National Geographic Society

Editors

National Geographic Society

Chandana Jasti, National Geographic Society

Fact-checker

Bob Connelly

other

Last Updated

November 14, 2024

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