Corn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: P. guttatus
Southeastern United States, spanning from southern New Jersey south to the Florida Keys 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: P. guttatus
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN). Population is stable, though they face local threats from habitat loss and road mortality.
Physical Description
Orange or brownish-yellow ground color with large, dark-bordered red or orange dorsal blotches. The head often features a V-shaped mark. Pupils are round. Ventral surface typically has a black-and-white checkered pattern resembling Indian corn, and scales are weekly keeled.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the image appears to be a sub-adult or small adult, roughly 2-3 feet long. Adults typically range from 24 to 72 inches (61 to 182 cm) in length.
Habitat
Terrestrial and semi-arboreal. Found in pine barrens, overgrown fields, forest openings, and frequently near human dwellings such as barns and grain silos. Elevation ranges from sea level to roughly 6,000 feet.
Diet & Feeding
Active foragers that use constriction to kill prey. They primarily feed on rodents (mice, rats), birds, and occasionally bats or lizards.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying). Females lay clutches of 10 to 30 eggs in late spring or early summer, which hatch after about 60 to 65 days. No parental care is provided after laying.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN). Population is stable, though they face local threats from habitat loss and road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Highly valued in the pet trade due to their varied color morphs. Ecologically vital for controlling rodent populations near agricultural areas.
Notable Features
Named 'Corn Snake' either for the checkered pattern on their belly resembling kernels of maize or for their frequent presence in corn granaries where they hunt mice.