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 to 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
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution, tolerance for habitat modification, and stable population trends.
Physical Description
Slender body with an orange-brown or grayish ground color marked by large, distinct red or reddish-brown blotches bordered in black along the back and sides. The belly features a characteristic alternating black and white checkerboard pattern.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen appears to be an adult or sub-adult measuring approximately 90 to 120 cm. Typical adult size ranges from 61 to 182 cm in total length.
Habitat
Found in overgrown fields, forest openings, trees, and abandoned or agricultural buildings. Prefers terrestrial environments with access to cover such as logs, bark, and rocks, ranging from sea level up to regional elevations.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily feeds on small mammals such as mice and rats, as well as birds and bats. Utilizes constriction as a primary foraging and hunting strategy.
Reproduction
Oviparous species that lays clutches ranging from 10 to 30 eggs in concealed, damp locations such as rotting logs or underground burrows during the early summer months.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) due to similar reddish blotching patterns, but can be distinguished by a round pupil, slender head, lack of facial pits, and the checkerboard belly pattern.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution, tolerance for habitat modification, and stable population trends.
Cultural Significance
Highly valued as a natural pest controller in agricultural settings due to its efficiency at managing rodent populations, and frequently kept as a docile pet in captivity.
Notable Features
Renowned for its docile temperament, adaptable nature, and significant genetic color and pattern morphs developed through selective breeding in captivity.