ORDER

Squamata (amphisbaenians, lizards and snakes)

FAMILY

Colubridae (colubrids)

HABITAT AND RANGE

Most abundant in Florida and the southeast, they can be found as far west as Kentucky, Louisiana and north to New Jersey. They can be found in meadowlands, wooded areas, abandoned buildings, and farmlands and as their name implies corn fields. They are also known as red rat snakes.

IDENTIFICATION

Many color variations exist but they are usually orange-red or brownish red. Their bellies have alternating black and tan markings resembling a checkerboard pattern. They are rather thin and reach lengths of 61-182 cm.

DIET

Corn snakes are constrictors. They attack their prey with an initial bite to the head to get a firm grip on it. They then coil their bodies around the body of their prey and suffocate the animal by tightening their grip every time the prey exhales. Smaller corn snakes prey on small lizards and tree frogs. Adults feed primarily on rodents but will catch birds and bats if they can.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFESPAN

Breeding season is between March and May. Corn snakes are oviparous and lay a clutch of 10-30 eggs in late May and early July. Gestation is 60-65 days provided that the average ambient temperature maintains about 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Hatchlings are 30 cm long on average.

NOTES

Corn snakes are primarily nocturnal and when they hunt they will usually climb trees or other vegetation. Corn snakes are very secretive and can spend a lot of their time roaming rodent burrows underground.