Corn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: Pantherophis guttatus
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. Populations are generally stable, though they face local threats from habitat loss and road mortality.
Physical Description
Features a distinct pattern of dark blotches edged in black against a lighter greyish or brownish background. The scales are lightly keeled, and the body is slender with a slightly broader head than neck.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen shown is likely a juvenile, approximately 30 to 50 cm in length. Adults typically range from 61 to 182 cm.
Habitat
Found in overgrown fields, forest openings, trees, and abandoned or agricultural buildings. Prefers terrestrial environments with access to cover, ranging from sea level to over 1,000 meters elevation.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily feeds on rodents, small birds, and bats. Utilizes constriction to subdue prey before swallowing them whole.
Reproduction
Oviparous species. Females typically lay clutches of 10 to 30 eggs in rotting wood, leaf litter, or underground cavities during the summer months.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with various rat snakes and copperheads due to the blotched dorsal pattern. Unlike copperheads, this species lacks heat-sensing facial pits and has round pupils.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Populations are generally stable, though they face local threats from habitat loss and road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Often found around agricultural barns where they provide valuable pest control by managing rodent populations. They are also one of the most popular snakes in the reptile pet trade.
Notable Features
Known for their gentle demeanor, excellent climbing ability, and high degree of color polymorphism when bred in captivity.