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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. Popular in the pet trade, they are known for being smaller and less aggressive than other Rat Snake species. more...

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They are non-venomous, another reason why they are often kept as pets. Their average adult length is about 3-5 feet and they may live to be 30 years old in captivity. 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 searching for mice.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies of Pantheropis guttatus, referred to as the Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake and the Emory's Rat Snake or Great Plains Rat Snake:

Common Corn Snake (Pantheropis guttatus) 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 (Pantheropis emoryi) is prevalent in both central North America and also parts of Mexico. Some have also been seen as far North as Michigan and east to Massachusetts. Great Plains Rat Snakes are less colorful than the nominant species, often being light gray or tan with dark gray blotches, sometimes with a hint of olive green. However, the Emory subspecies has a lot of yellow pigmentation in its genetics that have been monopolized by the pet trade. This subspecies is often stouter and larger and produces fewer eggs per clutch than its predominantly southeastern counterpart. While Great Plains Rat Snakes can be kept as pets, some individuals are more aggressive than the guttata subspecies.;

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.

Habitat

Wild Corn Snakes prefer habitats such as overgrown fields, forest openings, and abandoned or seldom used buildings.

Read more at Wikipedia.org