Corn Snake
Corn Snake Introduction
Corn snakes make popular pets because they’re relatively small, easy to care for, docile, and colorful. In the wild, they’re usually orange and red, similar to a copperhead, but breeders have produced numerous color variations, including lavender, fluorescent orange, and many more.
Corn snakes are found in the southeast or central United States. They’re sometimes killed if they’re mistaken for the venomous copperhead snake, but corn snakes are harmless to humans and actually do a lot of good because they eat rodents and other pests.
They live in overgrown fields, forest openings, and old farm buildings and barns. In colder climates, they hibernate during the winter; in mild coastal areas, they hide in logs and under rocks during cold weather, but don’t hibernate. They emerge once the weather warms.
Keywords to learn
Venomous: an animal that uses venom (poison) to kill its prey
Constriction: to squeeze
Docile: gentle, slow to anger
About Me
Hey Kids, my name is Cath the Corn snake and I am very happy to meet you. Learn more about me and my species @ www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
Key Data
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Order:Squamata.
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Lifespan:6 to 8 years.
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Class:Reptilia.
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Scientific Name:Pantherophis guttatus.
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Mass:1 to 5 pounds.
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Length:2 to 6 feet.
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Region found:Central and southeast United States.
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Population Status:Stable.
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Current population trend:Stable.
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Diet:Mice, reptiles, amphibians, and birds’ eggs.
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Sexual maturity:1 to 2 years.
As you have just learned, corn snakes are known for their brilliant markings and their docile natures, and not dangerous and are great to keep as pets, but sure you know how to look after them properly.
Now that you know more about the corn snake by learning the key data above, be sure also to check out the fun facts. When you are finished learning the facts, try answering the questions in the Q&A corner on the bottom right side of the page.
Download questions about the corn snake here: Corn snake (answers are on this page)
Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on snakes. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets
Cobra Fun Facts for Kids
- # 1. Corn snakes eat mice, lizards, frogs, snakes, and birds’ eggs. They typically eat every few days. They kill their prey by constriction.
- # 2. Corn snakes lay 12 to 24 eggs, usually in the spring. The eggs have a leathery shell and hatch 10 weeks after they were laid. Corn snakes don’t care for their babies, which are about 5 inches long when they hatch.
- # 3. Corn snakes can live 6 to 8 years in the wild. As pets, they live up to 23 years. The oldest known corn snake in captivity lived to 34 years of age.
- # 4. Corn snakes were probably given their name because they tend to hide in buildings where wheat and corn is stored to hunt for mice. This name has been around since at least 1675. Some people say the pattern on their bellies resembles a husked ear of corn.
- # 5. Corn snakes are related to the Great Plains rat snake and king snakes.
Q&A Corner
# 1. What do corn snakes eat and are they dangerous to humans?
# 2. In what ways are corn snakes beneficial to humans?
# 3. Where do corn snakes typically live?
# 4. Why do corn snakes make good pets?
# 5. Why were they named corn snakes?
Comments
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Best view i have ever seen !
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