Corn Snake (Anerythristic morph)
Pantherophis guttatus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: Pantherophis guttatus
Native to the southeastern and central United States, ranging from New Jersey south to Florida and west to Louisiana and parts of Kentucky. Commonly kept and bred worldwide in captivity.
Look up Corn Snake (Anerythristic morph) 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 of altered habitats, and stable populations throughout its natural range.
Physical Description
This specimen exhibits an anerythristic or silver-toned morph coloration, characterized by muted grey, brown, and black tones with the typical saddle blotch pattern of the species, lacking red or yellow pigments. It has a distinct head shape, large round pupils, and keeled or weakly keeled dorsal scales giving a slightly textured appearance.
Size & Dimensions
The visible specimen appears to be a juvenile or subadult, roughly 45 to 60 cm in length. Typical adult size for the species ranges from 61 to 182 cm.
Habitat
Found in forested regions, overgrown fields, low pinelands, agricultural land, and around abandoned or rarely used buildings. Prefers areas with ample cover such as fallen logs, rocks, and dense vegetation, from sea level up to mountainous elevations.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily feeds on small rodents, birds, and occasionally lizards or frogs. They are active nocturnal or crepuscular hunters that typically locate prey by scent and dispatch it through constriction.
Reproduction
Oviparous species that mates in the spring (March to May). Females lay clutches of 12 to 30 eggs in concealed, humid locations such as rotting logs, leaf litter, or underground burrows, which hatch after roughly 60 to 65 days.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution, tolerance of altered habitats, and stable populations throughout its natural range.
Cultural Significance
Extremely popular in the international pet trade due to their manageable size and vast array of selectively bred color and pattern morphs. Plays an important ecological role in controlling rodent populations.
Notable Features
Renowned for their calm disposition and adaptability in captivity, corn snakes are one of the most extensively studied and captive-bred serpents in the world, serving as a foundational species in reptile husbandry.