Corn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: Pantherophis guttatus
Native to the southeastern and central regions of the United States, ranging from New Jersey south to Florida and west into Louisiana and parts of Kentucky.
Look up Corn Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: Pantherophis guttatus
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to its wide distribution, tolerance of human-altered habitats, and stable populations.
Physical Description
Shows a distinct orange-red base coloration with darker red or brownish-orange blotches bordered in black along the back and sides. The belly features a characteristic black-and-white checkered pattern resembling maize kernels. Head is slightly distinct from the neck with round pupils.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the photo is estimated around 3 to 4 feet. Typical adults range from 61 to 182 cm (24 to 72 inches) in total length.
Habitat
Found primarily in wooded groves, forest openings, fields, agricultural lands, and around abandoned or infrequently used buildings. Elevation ranges from sea level up to around 600 meters.
Diet & Feeding
Predominantly eats rodents, small birds, and bats. Employs an active foraging strategy and dispatches prey through constriction.
Reproduction
Oviparous species. Females typically lay clutches of 10 to 30 eggs in decaying vegetation, rotting logs, or underground burrows during the early summer months.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to its wide distribution, tolerance of human-altered habitats, and stable populations.
Cultural Significance
Extremely popular in the pet trade, leading to numerous captive-bred color and pattern morphs. Plays a vital agricultural role by controlling rodent pest populations in its native range.
Notable Features
Renowned for its adaptability and striking patterns, making it one of the most widely kept captive pet snakes in the world.