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This is an example of a snake that is not
dangerous to humans and is kept as a pet.
 Description
The corn snake is thin and is 24 to 72 inches in length (61-182
centimetres). They are usually coloured orange or brownish yellow with
black edged spots running down the back. On the stomach there are black
and white marks, resembling a chess board. The colours will vary
according to the age and the whereabouts of the snake. The hatchlings
get the colours as they grow older. They are diurnal (not nocturnal).
They will usually climb trees and enter abandoned buildings in search of
prey, and will also enter rodent burrows and go underground. They are
very secret reptiles, and can be found under logs and loose bark.
Distribution and habitat
The corn snake can be found from New Jersey south to Florida and west
to Louisiana and parts of Kentucky in the United States of America. They
are most commonly found in Florida and the southeastern US. They are
commonly found in rocky groves, rocky hillsides, meadows, woodpiles,
barns and abandoned buildings.
Reproduction
The corn snake breeding season is from March to May, and they lay 10
to 30 eggs in a clutch. They are laid in tree stumps, piles of
vegetation and other places where the eggs will be warm enough for them
to hatch. After 60 to 66 days at 82 degrees Fahrenheit the eggs should
start to hatch – usually from July to September. They are frequently
born 10 to 15 inches long and they mature in 18 to 36 months.
Food habits
Corn snakes do not feed every day, feeding themselves every few days
instead. The hatchlings feed on lizards and tree frogs while the adults
feed on larger prey like mice, rats, birds and bats. The corn snake has
been seen swallowing prey whole.
Status
The corn snake is not an endangered species, although they are listed
as a species of special concern, because they are losing habitat and
being killed in lower Florida |
