Corn Snake

The corn snake has an orange background color; its back is dotted with red spots (called "saddles"), bordered in black. The ventral surface generally represents a white and black checkerboard. It is medium-sized, between 140 and 180 cm in length and can be 4–7 cm in diameter. Its distribution being quite vast, the phenotype can change depending on where it is found. For example, in Jasper County, South Carolina, several corn snakes were found with more intense colors and larger black borders; this variant was named Okeetee (in reference to the Okeetee Hunt Club, site of its discovery). These phenotypes linked to a specific geographic area are called localities. There is also the Miami locality, characterized by a phenotype composed of red saddles on a gray background, which was found in Florida in Miami County. The Upper Keys locality is an island form found on the Keys archipelago off the coast of Florida. It was considered a subspecies of Pantherophis guttatus before 2002, and was then called Elaphe guttata rosacea. This snake lives on average between 6 and 8 years, but it can reach 22 years in captivity.

Pantherophis guttatus lives in fields with abundant vegetation, at the forest edge, or in abandoned or rarely used buildings. It is found from sea level to an altitude of approximately 1,800 meters. Generally, these snakes remain on the ground, but they are nonetheless capable of climbing trees, rocky escarpments, or other elevated surfaces. In the coldest regions, these snakes hibernate during the bad season. However, in milder climates along the coast, they shelter in rock crevices or under wooden stumps when it is cold, but come out during warm days to enjoy the warmth of the sun. When it is cold, they are less active and hunt less.

Pantherophis guttatus has a diet composed mainly of rodents. It kills its prey by constriction. It is an exceptional climber and can climb trees to find birds or even bats, although it prefers to stay at ground level. Since litters of young mice are difficult to find in nature, many newborn corn snakes are known to eat small lizards as their first meals. Juvenile it eats every 4-5 days then adult every 7-10 days. Some individuals maintain this type of diet into adulthood.