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
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Populations are generally stable, though locally impacted by habitat loss and road mortality.
Physical Description
Slender body with a patterned dorsal surface featuring reddish-orange or brownish blotches outlined in dark borders over a lighter orange, gray, or yellowish background. The head is slightly distinct from the neck with dark markings often forming a spear-point or dart pattern between the eyes.
Size & Dimensions
Estimated specimen length is around 3 to 4 feet. Typical adults reach 2.4 to 5 feet (75 to 150 cm) in total length.
Habitat
Found in forested regions, overgrown fields, meadows, rocky hillsides, and around agricultural lands or suburban areas, typically hiding under bark, logs, or near foundations.
Diet & Feeding
Preys primarily on small rodents, birds, and bats. Utilizes constriction to subdue active prey and typically hunts as an active forager or ambush predator.
Reproduction
Oviparous species. Females typically lay clutches of 10 to 30 eggs in late spring or early summer, usually in decaying vegetation, rotting logs, or underground burrows.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Populations are generally stable, though locally impacted by habitat loss and road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Commonly kept in captivity as a popular pet due to extensive captive-bred color morphs. In the wild, they play an important ecological role in controlling rodent populations.
Notable Features
Known for their impressive climbing abilities and highly variable coloration in captive breeding lines.