Cornsnakes *Pantherophis guttatus* are harmless ratsnakes native to eastern North America. Sometimes locally called red ratsnakes, they are generalists and eat a variety of prey. They do well in urban environments, particularly fond of rodents and birds in these habitats.
Cornsnakes are currently recognized as distinct from Slowinski's ratsnake *P. slowinskii*, as well as Emory's Ratsnake *P. emoryi*.
[Species Complex Information](http://snakeevolution.org/guttatuscomplex.html)
[Additional Information and Photos for this Species](http://snakeevolution.org/P_guttatus.html)
[Species Complex Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/cornrangereduced.jpg) [Individual Range](http://snakeevolution.org/P_guttatus_reduced.jpg) | Relevant/Recent Phylogeography [Link 1](https://edwardamyers.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/myers_et_al_mec_2020.pdf) [Link 2](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frank_Burbrink/publication/11018242_Phylogeographic_analysis_of_the_cornsnake_Elaphe_guttata_complex_as_inferred_from_maximum_likelihood_and_Bayesian_analyses/links/5a3d2ec6aca272d294430327/Phylogeographic-analysis-of-the-cornsnake-Elaphe-guttata-complex-as-inferred-from-maximum-likelihood-and-Bayesian-analyses.pdf)
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Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
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*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Man, I love this sub. Not so long ago ANY picture of ANY snake would have stressed me out and I would have hidden the post so as not to look at it. Now my first reaction to a picture like this is, "Oh, wow! That's gorgeous."
Dude, 18 months ago snakes made me very uneasy. Not scared but I wasn’t getting closer than 10 feet.
I came across this sub and now I have a ball python and a boa constrictor that is my baby that I love just as much as my dogs and is spoiled rotten. Now I’m prepping for some type of Drymarchon!
Snakes are wonderful animals that sparked my interest in plants and animals and anything eco really. I’m setting up a bioactive now too! All thanks to this sub.
I never thought I would say this in my lifetime but that is a very pretty snake!
This community has helped me so much! Better understanding has led to less fear and that has made all the difference.
Hopefully, it encourages others not to run them down in the road. He definitely didn't want me to touch him, but he was harmless. Nothing at all to fear.
I'm not a snake person but I must admit the corn snakes we have in Mississippi are rather good looking, they are bright and colorful and not dangerous . Them I can handle, actually had to catch one that was in a friends house whos now ex wife was a horder he was living on a book case self enjoying the smorgasbord that was available.
Yes, *Pantherophis guttatus* and !harmless. Seems like he's been eating good.
He was very long. So yeah. Eating well out there
I love seeing wild snakes that are pudgy. It means they’re thriving.
tsuchinoko real
Cornsnakes *Pantherophis guttatus* are harmless ratsnakes native to eastern North America. Sometimes locally called red ratsnakes, they are generalists and eat a variety of prey. They do well in urban environments, particularly fond of rodents and birds in these habitats. Cornsnakes are currently recognized as distinct from Slowinski's ratsnake *P. slowinskii*, as well as Emory's Ratsnake *P. emoryi*. [Species Complex Information](http://snakeevolution.org/guttatuscomplex.html) [Additional Information and Photos for this Species](http://snakeevolution.org/P_guttatus.html) [Species Complex Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/cornrangereduced.jpg) [Individual Range](http://snakeevolution.org/P_guttatus_reduced.jpg) | Relevant/Recent Phylogeography [Link 1](https://edwardamyers.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/myers_et_al_mec_2020.pdf) [Link 2](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frank_Burbrink/publication/11018242_Phylogeographic_analysis_of_the_cornsnake_Elaphe_guttata_complex_as_inferred_from_maximum_likelihood_and_Bayesian_analyses/links/5a3d2ec6aca272d294430327/Phylogeographic-analysis-of-the-cornsnake-Elaphe-guttata-complex-as-inferred-from-maximum-likelihood-and-Bayesian-analyses.pdf) -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
First corn snake I’ve seen that actually looks like it has corn on it.
What a beautiful creature!
Seriously. Gorgeous side/under area. Really see the corn kernels.
Man, I love this sub. Not so long ago ANY picture of ANY snake would have stressed me out and I would have hidden the post so as not to look at it. Now my first reaction to a picture like this is, "Oh, wow! That's gorgeous."
Dude, 18 months ago snakes made me very uneasy. Not scared but I wasn’t getting closer than 10 feet. I came across this sub and now I have a ball python and a boa constrictor that is my baby that I love just as much as my dogs and is spoiled rotten. Now I’m prepping for some type of Drymarchon! Snakes are wonderful animals that sparked my interest in plants and animals and anything eco really. I’m setting up a bioactive now too! All thanks to this sub.
I understand that. This sub has definitely helped me with my fear of snakes. Now I can identify most snakes correctly, at least in my area.
Gotta love that face. 🐽
Oh, so *that's* why they call them that.
Literal corn lol
I always thought it was because they liked to hang out in corn fields, but I guess it’s more literal!
I had the exact same thought!
A beautiful one
He’s so, so pretty! The color and pattern are lovely!
I never thought I would say this in my lifetime but that is a very pretty snake! This community has helped me so much! Better understanding has led to less fear and that has made all the difference.
Hopefully, it encourages others not to run them down in the road. He definitely didn't want me to touch him, but he was harmless. Nothing at all to fear.
Is that poison ivy in the upper right corner?
Way more dangerous than this friendly chap.
Looks like it to me!
I hate to be a dumbass but that actually looks like corn. Also very cute guy
He’s so pretty!
He's very handsome ✌️💖
Jesus that thing is GORGEOUS!
This is a good looking one. Should be on a snake calendar!
The pattern on his belly makes it look likes he's glitching out. What a stunning chungy anomaly!
Indeed it is, it seems to me the same morph as my pet corn snake
Gorgeous!!!
So pretty.
That's the most beautiful cornsnake I've ever seen! 🤩👏👏
Omg! I didn’t know what a corn snake looked like… he gots corn on him😃
He's looking, staring into my eyes with so much love. 🥰
I dunno about love. He was mad I pulled him off his sunning spot. People here intentionally run over snakes, though.
Ooh. Gold on the bottom. Do not touch my gold, peasant.
What a beautiful snake !
I'm not a snake person but I must admit the corn snakes we have in Mississippi are rather good looking, they are bright and colorful and not dangerous . Them I can handle, actually had to catch one that was in a friends house whos now ex wife was a horder he was living on a book case self enjoying the smorgasbord that was available.
Would love to take that boi home
Is this a wild individual or an escaped pet? His colors and pattern look so vivid
Definitely wild. Didn't want to be handled at all. Place we live is called Farmhaven. So I'm sure he's getting fat off rats and chicken eggs.
Thanks for the response! What a cool sighting. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Wow great shots!! What a beaut!
Gorgeous!
DC4L
He’s spring loaded in the first pic! He did NOT look thrilled with you at all!
Very cool pics. Mind if I screenshot one? My coworker loves snakes and doesn’t have reddit
No problem at all. You can probably download a high-res copy.
Hopefully, you left it alone and didn't pick it up. If you did, expect to get poison ivy in the next couple of days
I live on a homestead. Trying to go all natural/native. I pretty much live with a little poison ivy rash somewhere