introduction

The name cornsnake is derived from the corn fields and corncribs where early Americans would sometimes encounter this snake when the animal was hunting for mice or other small rodents. The scientific name for the cornsnake is Elaphe Guttata, is derived from the greek word 'elaphe' meaning dearskin and the latin word 'guttatus' meaning spotted or speckled. Cornsnakes are certainly spotted, with large and prominent blotches that run down their backs, and their skin, with its smooth or weakly keeled scales, does indeed have the feel of fine soft leather. Another common name name that is used for for corn snakes is 'red rat snake'. This name is derived from the red orange colour of many cornsnakes, and the fact that mambers of the genus elaphe are collectively referred to as ratsnakes because of their food preferences.


Corn snakes are characterised by a series of blotches, outlined in black, that run down the back of the animal. Typically there are between 25 and 45 saddles present, occasionally 50 in far southern females. Additional smaller blotches often are present on the sides. The first blotch on the back of the neck splits to form two stripes that run on top of the head and meet to form the characteristic spearpoint. Additional stripes run along the sides of the head, through the eyes and meet on top of the head in front of the eyes. The groundcolour varies between orange, grey and brown and the blotches are typically either darker or more red than the groundcolour. The bellies of most corn snakes are usually marked with bold black checks on a white or orange background. The ventral checks, which can be mostly orange or largely absent, fuse into stripes on the underside of the tail. The scales of the body usually arein  25-27-19 rows (25 about a head length behind the head, 27 at midbody and 19 in front of the vent). There are almost always 8 supralabials (scales along the upperlip) and 11 infralabials (scales along the lower lip). The ventral scales vary from from 205 to 244, males having five ot six fewer ventrals than females in any particular population. The number of subcaudals (scales under the tail) varies from 47 to 84 pairs, males having a slightly longer tail than females and thus a few more subcaudals at any locality. The anal scale is divided

n modern times the corn snakes has become a snake of developed land. often being found near or in barns and abandoned structures. It also frequents fields and open arias, preferring dry habitats to marshland. Basically its a feeder on rodents and nestling birds, and its found where its prey is most abundant. Juveniles feeds on frogs and lizards and even larger insects, but take baby rodents if they can find them. During the day it hides under logs boards abd other debris or in rodent burrows, and often has it been found in homes. Though it can and does climb well, it usually is terrestrial.
Depending on locality and the winters in the area, corn snakes are active from March through October or November, though its possible to find speciments active during mild winters in the southern states.
Hibernation occurs in the usual tupes of protected spots such as rotten logs and under structures. Mating occurs shortly after the return of spring activity. For details of mating and egg laying see the section on breeding.
The corn snake can be a long living species, with many records in the 18 to 21 year realm . Expect average speciments that have adapted to captivity to live at least a dozen years


The basic range of the corn snakes extends from eastern louisiana (east of the mississippi River except in the Atchafalaya Basin west of New Orleans) and all of Mississippi (except the Black Dirt region in the northwest) over the southeastern United States to North Carolina.
The species is absent from most of Tennessee and known only from two small regions of Kentucky. A large group of populations occurs from central Virginia and southern Maryland across the Delmarva Peninsulina into the pinelands of southern New Jersey.

Two or sometimes 3, subspecies of the corn snakes are regognized. Elaphe Guttata Guttata is the 'standard' cornsnake and the subspecies to which the large majority of captive corn snakes belong. Elaphe Gutatta Emoryi the 'great plains rat snake' is the subspecies in the western area of the species range. Representatives of this subspecies have little or none of the red orange color that is so common in E.G.Guttata and are grey or brown animals with darker brown blotches. Some people concider the corn snakes from the Florida Keys as a seperate subspecies. Elaphe Guttata Rosacea or the 'rosy rat snake'. These animals are characteristic by a diminished amount of black pigment, both on the dorsal and ventral sides.
The different subspecies of cornsnake can be bred with one antother succesfully

normal coloured corn snake