Pantherophis guttatus (corn snake)

Pictures

Picture	Title	Caption	Copyright
Title Adult Caption Red Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus); adult, Monroe County, Florida, USA. Copyright ©Gary Nafis - CC BY-NC-ND 3.0	Adult	Red Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus); adult, Monroe County, Florida, USA.	©Gary Nafis - CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Title In habitat Caption Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus); in habitat. USA. March, 2005. Copyright ©Chris Evans/Illinois Wildlife Action Plan/Bugwood.org - CC BY-NC 3.0 US	In habitat	Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus); in habitat. USA. March, 2005.	©Chris Evans/Illinois Wildlife Action Plan/Bugwood.org - CC BY-NC 3.0 US
Title Head Caption Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus); Close-up of head. USA. March, 2005. Copyright ©Chris Evans/Illinois Wildlife Action Plan/Bugwood.org - CC BY-NC 3.0 US	Head	Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus); Close-up of head. USA. March, 2005.	©Chris Evans/Illinois Wildlife Action Plan/Bugwood.org - CC BY-NC 3.0 US
Title Ventral view Caption Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus); in hand, showing distinctive belly pattern and general size. USA. March, 2005. Copyright ©Chris Evans/Illinois Wildlife Action Plan/Bugwood.org - CC BY-NC 3.0 US	Ventral view	Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus); in hand, showing distinctive belly pattern and general size. USA. March, 2005.	©Chris Evans/Illinois Wildlife Action Plan/Bugwood.org - CC BY-NC 3.0 US

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

• Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)

Preferred Common Name

• corn snake

Other Scientific Names

• Callopeltis guttatus Lonnberg 1895
• Coluber caroliniaus Shaw 1802
• Coluber compressus Donndorf 1798
• Coluber floridanus Harlan 1827
• Coluber guttatus Linnaeus 1766
• Coluber guttatus guttatus Cope 1888
• Coluber guttatus sellatus Cope 1888
• Coluber laetus Boulenger 1894
• Coluber Maculatus Bonnaterre 1790
• Coluber molossus Daudin 1803
• Coluber pantherinus Daudin 1803
• Coluber rosaceus Cope 1888
• Coryphodon pantherinus Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril 1854
• Elaphe emoryi intermontana Woodbury & Woodbury 1942
• Elaphe guttata Sivak 1977
• Elaphe guttata
• Elaphe guttata Stejneger & Barbour 1923
• Elaphe guttata guttata Neil 1950
• Elaphe guttata rosacea Neill 1949
• Elaphe guttata rosaea Haast & Anderson 1981
• Elaphe guttatus Dunn 1915
• elaphe rosacea Barbour 1920
• Elaphe rosaliae Stejneger & barbour 1917
• Elaphew laeta Burt 1935
• Elaphis alleghanensis Jan & Sordelli 1867
• Elaphis guttatus Dumeril 1853
• Natrix guttatus Merrem 1803
• Natrix maculatus Merrem 1803
• Natrix pantherinus Merrem 1803
• Pantherophis guttata Fitzinger 1843
• Pantherophis guttatus Utiger et al. 2002
• Pituophis guttatus Burbank 2007
• Scotophis guttatus Baird & Girard 1853
• Scotophis laetus Baird & Girard 1853

International Common Names

• English: eastern corn snake; red ratsnake

Local Common Names

• Germany: Gewohnliche Kornnatter
• USA: red cornsnake

Summary of Invasiveness

P. guttatus is a corn snake native to southeastern USA that has been introduced throughout the Caribbean, to parts of Europe, Hawaii and some mainland US states. All known introductions are via stowaways in cargo, plants shipments and pet trade invasion pathways (Kraus, 2009; Giery, 2013). The main ecological impacts of P. guttatus are currently on limited or small populations of native animals that may be consumed as prey, including mammals, birds, frogs and lizards. Additionally, non-native species may be consumed, such as Cuban treefrogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) (Meshaka, 2011), Cuban brown anoles (Anolis sagrei), tropical house geckos (Hemidactylus mabouia), and domestic animals such as birds. Despite striking and biting in self-defense, P. guttatus likely does not pose a threat to humans.

Taxonomic Tree

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Metazoa
•         Phylum: Chordata
•             Subphylum: Vertebrata
•                 Class: Reptilia
•                     Order: Serpentes
•                         Family: Colubridae
•                             Genus: Pantherophis
•                                 Species: Pantherophis guttatus

Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Based on molecular data, Burbrink (2002) recognized three distinct lineages formerly under the name Elaphe guttata. These consist of Pantherophis emoryi, P. guttatus, and P. slowinskii. Utiger et al. (2002) conducted molecular analysis on New World and Old World Elaphe and resurrected the genus Pantherophis for North American rat snakes north of Mexico.

Description

P. guttatus is extremely variable in colour pattern. Adults are orangish-brown with black bordered orange, red, or brownish blotches. The belly is usually a black and white checkerboard pattern, though orange may also be present; underside of the tail has 2 black stripes; there is a spear-shaped pattern on the head and neck; scales are weakly keeled; pupil is round; and there are 27–29 dorsal scale rows at midbody (Conant and Collins, 1998). Juveniles are similar in appearance to adults, but may be more brownish in colouration. Natural populations of anerythristic (genetic mutation where red colouration is replaced by gray) snakes exist in southern Florida. It attains a total length (TL) up to 182.9 cm (Conant and Collins, 1998; Jensen et al., 2008), but median size is ca. 60 cm TL.

Distribution

P. guttatus is native to southeastern USA, from southern New Jersey south to the Florida Keys and west to eastern Louisiana (Conant and Collins, 1998; Burbrink, 2002). It has been introduced throughout the Caribbean, to parts of Europe, Hawaii and some mainland US states.

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

History of Introduction and Spread

P. guttatus began to be introduced within the USA in the 20th century. It only really began to spread throughout the Caribbean and further afield from the 1980s onwards.

Introductions

Risk of Introduction

P. guttatus has the potential to reduce limited or small populations of native wildlife species by preying upon them or competing for habitat or food. The main ecological impacts are currently on native animals that may be consumed as prey, including mammals, birds, frogs and lizards. Additionally, non-native species may be consumed, such as Cuban treefrogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) (Meshaka, 2011), Cuban brown anoles (Anolis sagrei), tropical house geckos (Hemidactylus mabouia), and domestic animals such as birds. Despite striking and biting in self-defense, P. guttatus likely does not pose a threat to humans.

Habitat

P. guttatus inhabits pinelands, hardwood hammocks, swamps, mangroves, agricultural fields and residential areas (Conant and Collins, 1998; Jensen et al., 2008). It is primarily active at night and is both a terrestrial burrower and extremely good climber. It is commonly found under rocks and logs (Jensen et al., 2008), in trees under bark and within palm fronds.

Habitat List

Biology and Ecology

Genetics

There are currently no subspecies recognized.

Reproductive Biology

P. guttatus lays eggs. Breeding occurs from April-June (Seigel and Ford, 1991; Jensen et al., 2008), 3–40 eggs are laid during the summer, and newborns hatch in July-September.

Longevity

P. guttatus can live up to 32 years in captivity (de Magalhaes and Costa 2009).

Activity Patterns

P. guttatus is primarily active at night and is both a terrestrial burrower and extremely good climber.

Nutrition

P. guttatus is an opportunistic generalist predator in its native range that actively hunts at night for mammals, birds, frogs and lizards.

Natural Food Sources

Climate

Water Tolerances

Notes on Natural Enemies

Predators of P. guttatus include carnivorous mammals, including domestic dogs and cats, birds and snakes, including kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula) and eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi) (Jensen et al., 2008).

Means of Movement and Dispersal

Natural Dispersal

Because of its general habitat requirements, P. guttatus has successfully expanded its range to include edificarian situations and offshore islands, including the Florida Keys, where it is likely in its highest population density.

Accidental Introduction

P. guttatus has been accidentally introduced to many areas via cargo and plant shipments, as well as by escaping from the enclosures of pet owners (Kraus, 2009). Comparing its Caribbean distribution from before 2000 with 2013 illustrates a range expansion probably due to independent introductions (Giery, 2013).

Pathway Causes

Pathway Vectors

Impact Summary

Economic Impact

The invasion of P. guttatus is relatively recent and economic impacts have not yet been examined. Large individuals will consume rodents which might otherwise eat crops, so in this way they may provide an economically beneficial pest control service.

Environmental Impact

Impact on Habitats

P. guttatus is unlikely to have any negative impacts on habitats. It does altar or create habitats to live in. It is found under rocks and logs (Jensen et al., 2008), in trees under bark and within palm fronds.

Impact on Biodiversity

The main ecological impacts of P. guttatus are currently the reduction of limited or small populations of native animals that may be consumed as prey, including mammals, birds, frogs and lizards. Additionally, non-native species may be consumed such as Cuban treefrogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) (Meshaka, 2011), Cuban brown anoles (Anolis sagrei), tropical house geckos (Hemidactylus mabouia) and domestic animals such as birds.

Social Impact

Fear of snakes is mostly irrational, especially of non-venomous species. Nonetheless, many people are afraid of snakes, which could cause them to panic when a snake is encountered. P. guttatus is too small to prey upon or kill domestic dogs or cats, but large individuals will consume rodents, which may make them be seen in a positive light by residents.

Risk and Impact Factors

Impact mechanisms

• Interaction with other invasive species
• Predation

Impact outcomes

• Negatively impacts livelihoods

Invasiveness

• Abundant in its native range
• Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
• Capable of securing and ingesting a wide range of food
• Fast growing
• Has a broad native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Long lived
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Tolerant of shade

Likelihood of entry/control

• Difficult to identify/detect as a commodity contaminant
• Difficult to identify/detect in the field
• Difficult/costly to control
• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
• Highly likely to be transported internationally illegally

Uses

Economic Value

During a two-year period from 1990 to 1992, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) conducted a study to collect data on the scope and magnitude of the commercial pet trade in native herpetofauna, to better manage wildlife resources (Enge, 1994). P. guttatus was the second most commonly collected and sold native species (n = 13,827), behind only the Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis; n = 14,097). P. guttatus has been one of the most popular species in the pet trade for more than three decades, likely due to the plethora of artificial colour pattern phenotypic mutations observed in cross-breeding experiments (Love and Love, 2000).

Social Benefit

P. guttatus is extremely common in the pet trade, and most world-wide exhibitors at reptile expos commonly sell, trade, and discuss techniques of captive husbandry.

Uses List

General

• Pet/aquarium trade

Similarities to Other Species/Conditions

P. guttatus can be mistaken for the mole kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster), but it has a light Y-shaped pattern on the back of the head and neck, a clouded brownish belly, and lacks a distinct neck.

Prevention and Control

There does not appear to be any quarantine or certification measures associated with importation of P. guttatus, or early detection and rapid response. There are also no known dedicated eradication programs or control measures for P. guttatus. Individual animals are found and removed opportunistically by humans.

Gaps in Knowledge/Research Needs

Although little is known about P. guttatus in its invasive range, studying these animals in the wild there should be secondary to dedicated eradication attempts. Nonetheless, in areas where eradication is unfeasible studies should be conducted on gathering life history data to help manage introduced populations, as well as determining its origin in its native distribution via genetic testing to produce a needed thorough phylogeographic study.

References

Breuil M, 2002. Natural history of amphibians and terrestrial repitles the Guadeloupean archipelago: Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthelemy. (Histoire naturelle des amphibiens et repitles terrestres de l'archipel Guadeloupéen: Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy.) Patrimoines Natureles, 54:1-339.

Breuil M, 2009. The terrestrial herpetofauna of Martinique: Past, present, future. Applied Herpetology, 6:123-149.

Brown PR, 1997. A field guide to snakes of California. Houston, Texas, USA: Gulf Publishing.

Buckner SD, Franz R, 1994. Geographic distribution: Elaphe guttata. Herpetological Review, 25:166.

Buckner SD, Franz R, Reynolds RG, 2012. Bahama Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands. Island lists of West Indian amphibians and reptiles. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History, 51:85-166.

Burbrink FT, 2002. Phylogeographic analysis of the cornsnake (Elaphe guttata) complex as inferred from maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 25:465-476.

Buurt van G, 2005. Field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. Frankfurt, Germany: Edition Chimaira.

Buurt van G, 2006. Conservation of amphibians and reptiles in Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. Applied Herpetology, 3:307-321.

Cardoza JE, Jones GS, French TW, Halliwell DB, 1993. Exotic and translocated vertebrates of Massachusetts, 2nd edition. Fauna of Massachusetts Series, no. 6. Westborough, Massachusetts, USA: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Conant R, Collins JT, 1998. A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America. In: A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians. Houghton Mifflin, 608 pp.

Echternacht AC, Burton FJ, Blumenthal JM, 2011. The amphibians and reptiles of the Cayman Islands: Conservation issues in the face of invasions. In: Conservation of Caribbean Island Herpetofaunas. Volume 2: Regional Accounts of the West Indies [ed. by Hailey, A. \Wilson, B. S. \Horrocks, J.]. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill Academic Publishers, 129-147.

Enge KM, 1994. Herptile use and trade in Florida. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Comm. Nongame Wildlife Program Final Performance Report. Tallahassee, Florida, USA: Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 102 pp.

Eterovic A, Duarte MR, 2002. Exotic snakes in São Paulo City, southeastern Brazil: why xenophobia? Biodiversity and Conservation, 11:327-339.

Franz R, Morgan GS, Davies JE, 1987. Some recent introductions of reptiles in the Cayman Islands, West Indies. Herpetological Review, 18:10-11.

Geiger A, Waitzmann M, 1996. Survivability of introduced amphibians and reptiles in Germany: implications for species conservation. (Überlebensfähigkeit allochthoner Amphibien und Reptilien in Deutschland: Konsequenzen für den Artenschutz.) In: Gebietsfremde Tiergarten [ed. by Gebhart, H. \Kinzelbach, R. \Schmidt-Fischer, S.]. Landsberg, Germany: Ecomed, 227-239.

Giery ST, 2013. First records of red cornsnakes (Pantherophis guttatus) from Abaco Island, The Bahamas, and Notes on Their Current Distribution in the Greater Caribbean Region. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians, 20:36-39.

Hayes WK, Barry RX, McKenzie Z, Barry P, 2004. Grand Bahama's Brown-headed Nuthatch: A distinct and endangered species. Bahamas Journal of Science, 12:21-28.

Henderson RW, Breuil M, 2012. Lesser Antilles. Island lists of West Indian amphibians and reptiles. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History, 51:85-166.

Hodge KVD, Censky EJ, Powell R, 2003. The Reptiles and Amphibians of Anguilla. The Valley, Anguilla: Anguilla National Trust.

Hodge KVD, Powell R, Censky EJ, 2011. Conserving the herpetofauna of Anguilla. In: Conservation of Caribbean Island Herpetofaunas. Volume 2: Regional Accounts of the West Indies [ed. by Hailey, A. \Wilson, B. S. \Horrocks, J.]. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill Academic Publishers, 3-15.

Jennings MR, 1987. Annotated check list of the amphibians and reptiles of California, 2nd, revised edition. Special Publication no. 3 of the Southwestern Herpetologists Society. California, USA: Southwestern Herpetologists Society.

Jennings MR, 2004. An annotated check list of the amphibians and reptiles of California and adjacent waters (third revised edition). California Fish and Game, 90:161-213.

Jensen JB, Camp CD, Gibbons W, Elliott MJ, 2008. Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. Athens, Georgia, USA: University of Georgia Press.

Kairo M, Ali B, Cheesman O, Haysom K, Murphy S, 2003. Report to the Nature Conservancy. Curepe, Trinidad and Tobago: CAB International, 132 pp.

Knapp CR, Iverson JB, Buckner SD, Cant SV, 2011. Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in The Bahamas. In: Conservation of Caribbean Island Herpetofaunas. Volume 2: Regional Accounts of the West Indies [ed. by Hailey, A. \Wilson, B. S. \Horrocks, J.]. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill Academic Publishers, 53-87.

Kraus F, 2009. Invading nature: Springer series in invasion ecology 4. Springer, 563 pp.

Kraus F, Cravalho D, 2001. The risk to Hawaii from snakes. Pacific Science, 55:409-417.

Lee DS, 2004. Additional reptiles and amphibians introduced to the Bahamas: a growing conservation concern. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society, 39:161-164.

Lee DS, 2005. Reptiles and amphibians introduced to the Bahamas: a potential conservation crisis. Bahamas Journal of Science, 12:2-6.

Livo LJ, Hammerson GA, Smith HM, 1998. Summary of amphibians and reptiles introduced into Colorado. Northwestern Naturalist, 79:1-11.

Magalhaes Jde , Costa J, 2009. A database of vertebrate longevity records and their relation to other life-history traits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 22:1770-1774.

Meshaka WE Jr, 2011. A runaway train in the making: the exotic amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and crocodilians of Florida. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 6(Monograph 1):iii + 94 pp. http://herpconbio.org/Volume_6/Monographs/Meshaka_2011.pdf

Münch D, 1992. Abandoned amphibian and reptile species in Dortmund. (Ausgesetzte Amphibien- und Reptilienarten in Dortmund und weitere herpetologische Kurzmitteilungen.) Dortmunder Beiträge zur Landeskunde, Naturwissenschaftliche Mitteilungen, 26:34-45.

Perry G, Gerber GP, 2006. Conservation status of reptiles and amphibians in the U. Virgin Islands. Applied Herpetology, 3:237-256.

Perry G, Pierce J, Griffin D, Buurt Gvan , Lazell J, 2003. Geographic distribution: Elaphe guttata. Herpetological Review, 34:264-265.

Perry G, Platenberg R, 2007. Recent additions to the herpetofauna of Little St. James, US Virgin Islands. Applied Herpetology, 4:387-389.

Platenberg RJ, 2007. Impacts of introduced species on an island ecosystem: Non-native reptiles and amphibians in the US Virgin Islands. In: Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species: Proceedings of an International Symposium [ed. by Witmer, G. W. \Pitt, W. C. \Fagerstone, K. A.]. National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA: USDA/APHIS/WS, 168-174.

Platenberg RJ, Boulon Jr RH, 2006. Conservation status of reptiles and amphibians in the US Virgin Islands. Applied Herpetology, 3:215-235.

Pleguezuelos JM, 2004. Introduced species of amphibians and reptiles. (Las especies introducidas de anfibios y reptiles.) Atlas y libro rojo de los anfibios y reptiles de España [ed. by Pleguezuelos, J. M. \Márquez, R. \Lizana, M.]. Madrid, Spain: General Directorate of Nature Conservation-Spanish Herpetological Association, 502-532.

Powell R, 2006. Conservation of the herpetofauna on the Dutch Windward Islands: St. Eustatius, Saba, and St Maarten. Applied Herpetology, 2:293-306.

Powell R, Henderson RW, 2003. A second set of addenda to the checklist of West Indian amphibians and reptiles. Herpetological Review, 34:341-345.

Powell R, Henderson RW, Parmerlee Jr JS, 2005. The reptiles and amphibians of the Dutch Caribbean. St. Eustatius, Netherlands Antilles: St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation.

Questel K, Vitry A, 2012. Pantherophis guttatus (Corn Snake). Distribution. Caribbean Herpetology, 37:1.

Reynolds RG, Niemiller ML, 2010. Island invaders: Introduced amphibians and reptiles of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Reptiles & Amphibians, 17:117-121.

Schwartz A, Henderson RW, 1991. Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies. Gainesville, Florida, USA: University Florida Press.

Seidel ME, Franz R, 1994. Amphibians and reptiles (exclusive of marine turtles) of the Cayman Islands. In: The Cayman Islands: Natural History and Biogeography [ed. by Brunt, M. A. \Davies, J. E.]. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer, 407-433.

Seigel R, Ford N, 1991. Phenotypic plasticity in the reproductive characteristics of an oviparous snake, Elaphe guttata: Implications for life history studies. Herpetologica, 47(3):301-307.

Utiger U, Helfenberger N, Schätti B, Schmidt C, Ruf M, Ziswiler V, 2002. Molecular systematics and phylogeny of old and new world rat snakes, Elaphe Auct., and related genera (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae). Russian Journal of Herpetology, 9(2):105-124.

Principal Source

Draft datasheet under review

Contributors

10/12/13 Original datasheet by:

Kenneth Krysko, University of Florida, USA

Distribution Maps

• = Present, no further details
• = Evidence of pathogen
• = Widespread
• = Last reported
• = Localised
• = Presence unconfirmed
• = Confined and subject to quarantine
• = See regional map for distribution within the country
• = Occasional or few reports

Download KML file Download CSV file

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Please click OK to ACCEPT or Cancel to REJECT

OK Cancel

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Please click OK to ACCEPT or Cancel to REJECT

OK Cancel