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The Corn Snakes (Elaphe guttata) are a species of Rat Snake. They are known for being somewhat smaller than other Rat Snake species. Their average length is about 4 feet long. They are found throughout south-eastern and central North America as well as parts of Mexico.
There are two subspecies of Corn Snake, however, one subspecies is not called a Corn Snake, but instead is called a Rat Snake:
- Common Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata guttata) is prevalent in the south-eastern United States and is distinguished by having orange skin with red blotches, the blotches having black borders.
- Emory's Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata emoryi) is prevalent in both central North America and also parts of Mexico. Some have also been seen as far North as Northeastern United States. It is less colorful than the nominant subspecies. They are light gray or tan with dark gray blotches, sometimes with a hint of olive green.
Corn Snakes, as with all Rat Snakes, have a diet primarily consisting of rodents, however, they are proficient climbers and will scale trees in search of birds and bird eggs. Baby Corn snakes are known to eat small lizards as their first meals, and anoles are the preferred choice.
Corn snakes as pets
Corn Snakes are known for being ideal pets and are one of the most widely available snakes in the pet trade. There are many, many different colors and patterns morph to the point that one could literally own over 50 of them and no two would look alike. Some of the most common colors (other than the color found in the wild) are Albino, Anerytheristic, Snow, Hypomelanistic, and Ghost. An intergrade has been created by breeding the Albino Corn Snake with the Emory's Rat Snakes to make what people call a Creamsicle Corn Snake.
Note: The scientific name has recently been changed to Pantherophis guttata, however, many people have yet to agree with the change and still call them by the name Elaphe guttata.
References
- Pantherophis replaces Elaphe. Utiger, Helfenberger, Schatti, Schmidt, Ruf & Ziswiler (2002) Russian Journal of Herpetology 9(2): 105-124.
- [1] (http://www.naherpetology.org/research.asp?id=18)
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