Corn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus • Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Reptilia, Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: P. guttatus
Native to the southeastern and central regions of the United States, ranging from New Jersey south to Florida and west to Louisiana and parts of Kentucky.
Look up Corn Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Reptilia, Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: P. guttatus
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, as it has a wide distribution, tolerates habitat modification, and populations are generally stable.
Physical Description
Slender body with a pattern of dark-edged reddish or brownish blotches along the back and sides. The head typically displays a distinct spear-point or dart-shaped marking between the eyes.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen pictured appears to be a juvenile, approximately 10-15 inches long. Adults typically reach lengths of 61 to 182 cm (24 to 72 inches).
Habitat
Found in overgrown fields, forest openings, trees, and around abandoned or derelict buildings. They prefer regions with plenty of hiding spots such as logs, bark, and rocks.
Diet & Feeding
Juveniles primarily feed on small lizards and tree frogs, while adults consume rodents, bats, and birds. They are constrictors that hunt both actively and by ambush.
Reproduction
Oviparous species. Females typically lay clutches of 12 to 24 eggs in rotting vegetation or loose soil during the summer months, which hatch after about 60 to 65 days.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, as it has a wide distribution, tolerates habitat modification, and populations are generally stable.
Cultural Significance
Frequently kept in captivity as a popular pet due to vibrant morph varieties. In the wild, they play a crucial ecological role by controlling rodent populations.
Notable Features
Noted for their ability to climb rough surfaces and trees, and their remarkable color variations when bred in captivity, which have produced dozens of distinct morphs.