ok, for those of you who are insisting this isnt an indigo snake, im sorry to tell you but you are mistaken--i am a representative from my local herp. society and i have 30 yrs experience field studying reptiles and amphibians. The snake is most certainly from the family Drymarchon,, the indigo snakes--there are three species, primarily, the eastern, the texas, and the cribo (which is a mexican sub species). this appears to be the TEXAS indigo pictured above.. some are insisting its a rat snake or a king snake--the dead giveway is the dark colored streak coming down the face as it plainly seen. i understand snakes can be easily confused, so not flaming anyone, just confirming the i.d. for everyone' s benefit.. Jude

I am from eastern ky and we have plenty of black snakes rattlers. I KNOW ONE THING if its black- its a black snake and we do not kill black snakes no matter it is called as long as they eat rattlers and they will do.

Ratsnakes don't eat venomous snakes. Indigos however are ophidiophagus. That's interstitial skin, not juvenile patterning, plus at that size, most of the pattern would be blackened out. Look at that tear streak coming from the eye. The snake is in shade, so there isn't enough light to have any irridescence off the scales.

i dont think its an indigo, tail is wrong, eye ridges arent pronounced enough, and it doesnt have irridecent scales. that and its eating a western diamondback, aka coon tail rattler. wonder where it gets that name. anyhow, that would prolly make it a black rat snake/texas rat snake hybrid. the juvinille patern of the black rat snake is still evident, and the brownish nose area kinda points to 1/3ish texas rat. but im not sure, sometimes hard to tell from pictures.

ok so poisonous or venomous, whatever it doesnt matter cause if you READ what he said he said there were no poisonous BLACK SNAKES in the us not that there arnt poisonus snakes. How could king snakes eat poisonus snakes if there arnt any poisonus snakes. READ first then post !!!!!!

Actually jflottman is right, http://www.snakeman1982.com/Venomous%20vs.%20Poisonous.asp Most things from Wikipedia are plagiarized from credible sources

Just noticed it's even a synonym ven·om·ous (věn'ə-məs) Pronunciation Key adj. 1. 1. Secreting and transmitting venom: a venomous snake. 2. Full of or containing venom. 2. Malicious; spiteful: a venomous remark. See Synonyms at poisonous.

Hey jflottman... Maybe no one ever told you, but Wikipedia is edited by regular people on the internet.... it is as much opinion as fact, where even co-founder and überpedian Jimmy Wales has acknowledged there are real quality problems with the online work. Try using a dictionary sometime if you want to say something credible and not looking like an idiot posting false information as true.... poi⋅son⋅ous Show Spelled Pronunciation [poi-zuh-nuhs] –adjective 1. full of or containing poison: poisonous air; a poisonous substance. 2. harmful; destructive: poisonous to animals; poisonous rumors. 3. deeply malicious; malevolent: poisonous efforts. poi·son·ous (poi'zə-nəs) adj. 1. Capable of harming or killing by or as if by poison; toxic or venomous. 2. Containing a poison. 3. Marked by apparent ill will: "poisonous hate . . . in his eyes" (Ernest Hemingway). Sounds like poisonous snakes to me...

dreadfulredhead there are also NO poisonous snakes in North America. There are, however, venomous snakes. Poisonous describes plants or animals that are harmful when consumed or touched. Venomous refers to animals that deliver (often, inject) venom into their prey when hunting or as a defense mechanism. From Wikipedia.

That's one of the most horrifying things I've ever seen

Pardon, that is a Texas indigo, which is why it would be eating a western diamondback.

@dreadfulredhead: That is in fact, an Eastern Indigo. Take a look at the blue interstitial skin! The size alone tells you that is neither a mex blk, or a blk king, or a melanistic cali king. That and that eye, typical Drymarchon tear streak! Plus the face had reddish tinges, again, no kingsnake has any red in the face. Seriously, that thing is massive. That is no king.

@Starlifter: That is not, in fact, an Eastern Indigo. It is a king snake, probably a Mexican or California king. The rattler is a western diamondback, not an eastern diamondback. You can tell because although it is heavy, it is not nearly as wide and fat and short as an eastern rattler. Pretty much any "black snake", be it an indigo, king snake, black racer, etc. are beneficial. There are no poisonous black snakes in the US (although water moccasins can be very dark, they are more of a mottled dark grey). And king snakes eat poisonous snakes (and non-poisonous snakes, but who counts that against them?). Racers eat mice and bugs. Besides, they're so cute and lovable. People who dislike snakes to the point of needing to have them killed need to educate themselves.

Wow, black snakes are so cool! I love black snakes! RT www.internet-privacy.us.tc

Sup dawg I herd you liked snakes.

I agree you should not kill a blacksnake, as they are harmless and beneficial. The above pictures do not prove that, as this is an Eastern Indigo snake. They love to eat rattlesnakes.

I wouldn't get too comfortable; check this out. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/27/2475461.htm

You better believe it I have thease every summer at my place. One was between the two back doors.One was in the grill. They are always four to five feet long. lol

is he a king snake?

he wont have to eat for a while.. wow

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