Facts about Corn Snake
- 08
Estivation, a dormancy state similar to hibernation, allows corn snakes to survive several months without food during hot, dry summers in their native habitat.
- 07
Corn snakes can consume prey items up to 1.5 times the diameter of their own head by unhinging their lower jaw, allowing them to swallow rodents whole.
- 06
Corn snakes possess a specialized forked vomeronasal organ that allows them to detect pheromone trails left by potential mates up to several feet away.
- 05
Vertical pupils and heat-sensing pits along a corn snake's jaw enable them to hunt small rodents effectively in low-light conditions typical of their native southeastern United States habitat.
- 04
Throughout their first year, corn snakes shed their skin approximately 8 to 12 times as they grow rapidly from hatchling to juvenile size.
- 03
Orange and red coloration in corn snakes comes from carotenoid pigments in their diet, which is why captive snakes fed on naturally colored prey display more vibrant hues than those eating standardized pellets.
- 02
Corn snakes can live 15 to 20 years in captivity, making them one of the longest-lived commonly kept pet reptiles.
- 01
Hatchling corn snakes measure approximately 7 to 10 inches in length, while adults typically reach 3 to 4 feet long.