# Corn Snake (*Pantherophis guttatus*) The Corn Snake is a beautiful snake with bright orange and red patterns! They are great pets and love to stay near cornfields. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 16 - **Habitat:** Fields and forests - **Also known as:** Corn Racer, Red Rat Snake ![Corn Snake](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426153/objects/5597.jpg) ## Appearance The Corn Snake has a slender body, often displaying vibrant orange, red, and brown blotches bordered by black, against a grey or yellow background. Its distinctive pattern helps it blend into forest floors, making it visually different from solid-colored or striped snakes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Pantherophis ## Interesting facts - A corn snake sheds its whole skin at once, revealing a brand-new, shiny look! - Corn snakes hatch with a tiny "egg tooth" to break out of their shell! - Their name might come from corn because their belly pattern looks like kernels! - They can live over 20 years, even longer than many cats and dogs! ## Special abilities - **Super Grippers:** Corn Snake can climb trees and structures with ease because of special belly scales that grip surfaces for fantastic agility. - **Squeeze Power:** Corn Snake can squeeze prey tightly because of its strong, muscular body, which helps it overpower meals without venom. - **Rattle Impersonator:** Corn Snake can vibrate its tail rapidly, creating a buzzing sound that helps them scare away predators by mimicking rattlesnakes. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-180 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-1 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-23 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-30 - **Incubation:** 60-70 days ## Diet & Feeding These constrictors are mighty hunters, feasting on small mammals and birds. - **Age differences:** Young snakes may also eat lizards and frogs. - **Primary Foods:** Mice, Voles, Rats, Small Birds, Bird Eggs, Bats - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — Controls rodent populations. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A common predator in their habitat. - **Eaten by:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — Opportunistic predator of snakes. - **Hunts:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — A primary food source. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Corn Snake? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Corn Snake? 60-180 cm ### How much does Corn Snake weigh? 0.2-1 kg ### How long does Corn Snake live? 15-23 years ### How fast can Corn Snake move? 5 km/h ### What does Corn Snake eat? These constrictors are mighty hunters, feasting on small mammals and birds. ### Where is Corn Snake usually found? Fields and forests ### How does Corn Snake hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Bainbridge Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bainbridge-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Commerce Street Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/commerce-street-residential-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [East Commerce Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-commerce-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Flamingo Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/flamingo-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Foley Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foley-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Fort Payne Boom Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-payne-boom-town-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see Corn Snake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/corn-snake) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Corn Snake: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/corn-snake)