Red Cornsnake Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)    Synonyms: Corn Snake, Cornsnake.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Reptilia   >   Order Squamata   >   Family Colubridae   >   Genus Pantherophis   

Status:

This beautiful snake, frequently sold in the pet trade, is also native to Maryland. Red Cornsnakes (Pantherophis guttatus) are considered uncommon to rare inhabitants, and their generally secretive, nocturnal nature makes field encounters rather rare. This species appears to have a preference for forested habitats, including pine or hardwood forests, provided the soil is loose, as this snake spends much time underground, or under cover objects, in search of rodents and other small prey. Like rat snakes, cornsnakes can also climb well, and are sometimes found searching trees or hiding in hollow cavities. In Maryland, this snake is most common on the coastal plain, with scattered occurrences into western Maryland (Tennant 2003; Maryland DNR site).

There are 29 records in the project database.

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A Red Cornsnake in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/14/2005). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A Red Cornsnake in Howard Co., Maryland (7/26/2015). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A juvenile Red Cornsnake in Baker Co., Georgia (4/16/2010). Photo by Corey Raimond. (MBP list)

A Red Cornsnake from Polk Co., Tennessee (June, 2011). Photo by Troy Hibbitts. (MBP list)

Red Cornsnake in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

Red Cornsnake in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

Red Cornsnake in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)


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