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The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake. The Latin word elaphe means deerskin. A corn snake suffocates its prey by wrapping its body around it. more...

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Constricting prey is a basic instinct for snakes and they will preform this action in the wild and in captivity. Like any animal its temperament and behavior is different for each snake. Corn snakes are generally docile and make excellent pets. Their average adult length is about 1.2 to 1.8 metres (4-6 feet) fully grown, and they can live up to 20 years. They are found throughout the south-eastern and central United States as well as parts of Mexico. The name 'corn snake' refers to the splotched pattern on its belly, which resembles Indian maize. Some, however, believe it is because they are often found in corn fields where they search for rodent prey.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies of Elaphe guttata:

Common Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata guttata) is prevalent in the southeastern United States and is distinguished by having orange skin with red blotches, the blotches having black borders.; Great Plains Rat Snake or Emory's Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata emoryi) is found in the United States from Nebraska to Texas, and into northern Mexico.;

Taxonomy

In 2002, all North American rat snakes of the genus Elaphe were suggested for reclassification into the genus Pantherophis, thus changing the scientific name of the Corn Snake from Elaphe guttata to Pantherophis guttatus, however many people have not accepted the change, and it is still widely referred to as Elaphe.

In 2003 Herpetological Review rejected the change from Elaphe to Pantherophis on the basis that further research was needed. Furthermore, the International Committee for Zoological Nomenclature has not ruled on the change. Taxonomic changes do not become official until they are approved by the ICZN, until such time any published articles with reclassification of the taxonomic names are regarded as taxonomic suggestions. Official taxonomy, whether used or not, remains with the older nomenclature until changes are approved by the ICZN.

Natural Habitat

Wild Corn Snakes prefer habitats such as overgrown fields, forest openings, trees, and abandoned or seldom used buildings and farms, from sea level up to as high as 6000 feet. They can be found in the South Eastern USA ranging from New Jersey to the Florida keys and as far west as Texas.

Habits

In the wild, Corn Snakes tend to be quite secretive and appear mostly at night (nocturnal) or during the twilight hours (crepuscular). During daylight hours they may be found hiding under loose tree bark and beneath logs, rocks, and other debris.In colder regions, snakes hibernate during winter. However, in the more temperate climate along the coast they shelter in rock crevices and logs during cold weather and come out on warm days to soak up the heat of the sun. During cold weather, snakes are less active and therefore hunt less.

Read more at Wikipedia.org