Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been reading the posts in here for a while now. I am looking to get into higher-end herps and have always loved the indigo snakes beauty. I am just very confused about the names indigo and caribo. What is the difference or are they the same thing? I go to the San Diego IRBA show every year, and a few years back I saw a great Indigo. I believe it was Fred Albury who had it. It was solid black and it was huge. This was an image I have never been able to get out of my mind. The beauty was indescribable.
I have seen some amazing Caribos but they had nothing on the black indigos. Are the solid blacks eastern and the browns Texans? Please let me know, this is a snake I can see myself investing in in the near future.
Thanks: Jason

Yes, in general the solid black one are Easterns and the brown ones are Texas, although the Texas Indigos tend to be somewhat variable and some are darker than others.

Under current taxonomy, Indigos and Cribos are in the same genus and species. Cribos are essentially South and Central American races of Indigo Snakes. Or, another way to look at it is that Indigos are North American races of Cribos because the Yellowtail Cribo Drymarchon corais corais is the type subspecies (the first one described and named). In any case, they are all subspecies of the same species Drymarchon corais. There is a proposal to change the taxonomy to give the Eastern Indigo full species status of Drymarchon couperi, as well as some other changes to the Central and South American races. Wolfgang Wuster can comment further on that if he reads this and cares to, he is involved in the proposal of the changes and certainly has more knowledge on the subject than I do. There is a link to his website with some information on these proposed changes if you go to www.indigosnakes.com.

There is a Mexican race, the Mexican Redtail Cribo Drymarchon corais rubidus that is also large and shiny black. This one is probably (in my opinion) as close as you can get to an Eastern Indigo both in appearance and temperament with out getting an Eastern. Problem is that they tend to be harder to find than Easterns and just as expensive.

Thanks for the info. That clears up all the confusion I was having. The caribos and indigos certanly are amazing. I especially like those black stripes under their eyes. When the time and funds are right Id like to start out with the eastern indigos. Something about that indigo color sucks me in. I will check out that website. Thanks again for your help, and I will post when I do get them.
Thanks: Jason