Corn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus • Squamata, Serpentes, Colubridae, Colubrinae, Pantherophis, P. guttatus
Southeastern and central regions of the United States, primarily inhabiting areas east of the Mississippi River.
Look up Corn Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Squamata, Serpentes, Colubridae, Colubrinae, Pantherophis, P. guttatus
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, facing regional threats primarily from habitat loss and vehicular mortality on roads.
Physical Description
Exhibits light brown or gray dorsal ground color with darker reddish-brown saddles edged in black, and a slender, slightly compressed body.
Size & Dimensions
The pictured specimen appears to be a juvenile approximately 35 centimeters long; adults typically range from 60 to 180 centimeters.
Habitat
Found in wooded groves, forest openings, abandoned fields, and agricultural lands, typically utilizing ground cover and rodent burrows.
Diet & Feeding
Preys primarily on small rodents, birds, and lizards, utilizing constriction as an active or ambush hunter.
Reproduction
Oviparous species that typically lays clutches of 10 to 30 eggs in concealed, humid locations during the summer months.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, facing regional threats primarily from habitat loss and vehicular mortality on roads.
Cultural Significance
Frequently kept in captivity and valued ecologically for providing natural pest control by regulating rodent populations.
Notable Features
Possesses a checkerboard pattern on the belly scales and distinct spear-like markings on the top of the head.