Click on any image to open the slideshow
Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)
Corn Snake
Red Rat Snake
Chicken Snake
Synonym(s): Pantherophis guttata Fitzinger, 1843
Florida native
These snakes occur in every Florida county, including in the Keys. The native range extends throughout the southeastern United States. They are also now found in the Caribbean and other places around the world.
Adults are 76-122cm (30 to 48 in.) long, orangish-brown with black-bordered blotches that may be orange, red or brownish. The underside is light with alternating colored rectangles that resemble the kernels of variegated corn on the cob. There is a spear-shaped pattern on the top of the head and neck. Juveniles are similar in appearance, but usually browner in color.
Pantherophis guttatus is a member of the Colubridae - Colubrids - nonvenomous snakes family.
Other species of the Pantherophis genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Pantherophis spiloides - GRAY RAT SNAKE
iNaturalist profile for this species
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Florida Museum of Natural History Herpetology page for this species
Date record last modified: Jul 14, 2024
