Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Why is a corn snake called a "cornsnake" or "corn snake". When I was a kid it was also called a red rat snake. That name seems logical as it was then a rat snake. But a corn snake is not yellow, nor would I think they live in corn fields, or do they?

So why "corn" snake?
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ontogeny recapitulate phylogeny

Charlie Mike

I am your worst nightmare! I have a three-line phone and plenty of time to kill!
(Dale Gribble)

1.3 Bearded Dragons
6 baby female Western hognose, 3.5 adults some friend some mine,,,building breeding stock)
1 Corn snake (bloodred) 0.2 1 MIA In the house I hope
1 baby creamcycle 0.1
2 Okeettes I think? 1.1 youngens
ochrocephala oratrix 0.0.1? Adult, and a killer!
ochrocephala auropalliata 0.0.1? Adult
2.0 Dogs,
0.2 Cats,,
0.1 Wives, (Long term captive!,, I mean ME!)
1.1 Kids (Paininthearsius takamemonii) J/K great kids
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tom

www.herpzilla.com

they are found in corn fields. on a total different note, lots of mice are also found in corn fields
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0.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snakes

yep..they are found in corn fields and corn cribs around the farms.....also they have checkered bellies that resemble corn....think indian corn.........(or are we to now call this native American corn?).....
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you think????

I figured mice and rodents in corn fields, I just did not hear of herping corn fields. But any snake would then be in a corn field. We should also have wheat snakes lol
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ontogeny recapitulate phylogeny

Charlie Mike

I am your worst nightmare! I have a three-line phone and plenty of time to kill!
(Dale Gribble)

1.3 Bearded Dragons
6 baby female Western hognose, 3.5 adults some friend some mine,,,building breeding stock)
1 Corn snake (bloodred) 0.2 1 MIA In the house I hope
1 baby creamcycle 0.1
2 Okeettes I think? 1.1 youngens
ochrocephala oratrix 0.0.1? Adult, and a killer!
ochrocephala auropalliata 0.0.1? Adult
2.0 Dogs,
0.2 Cats,,
0.1 Wives, (Long term captive!,, I mean ME!)
1.1 Kids (Paininthearsius takamemonii) J/K great kids
-----
tom

www.herpzilla.com

The name comes from farmers who very often found them in the corn cribs where there are MASSIVE amounts of rodents. if you live on a farm or ranch you know that there is a high rodent population where the grain is stored. Same thing with Milk snakes they got there name because they were often found in peoples dairy barns also where there was a large population due to the stored cattle feed.

To go a little more in depth on the milk snake, it was believed that the snakes drank the milk from the cows.
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**********Misty**********
Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize that you haven't gone to sleep yet.

2.3.0 bearded dragons
0.1.0 water dragon
1.3.0 leopard geckos
12.20.0 corn snakes
1.1.0 jungle corns
2.2.0 king snakes
1.1.0 false water cobras
1.0.0 royal (Ball) pythons
0.1.0 kenyan sand boa
1.0.0 Sinaloan milk snake
0.1.0 Tri-Hybrid milk snake
0.1.0 rat snake
0.0.2 prairie ringneck snakes
0.1.0 chilean rose hair tarantula
1.1.0 emperor scorpions
1.1.0 Congo African Grey Parrots
0.1.0 German Shepherd hybrid dog

I had heard that also but after a little research I couldnt confirm that this had anything to do with the nameing of the snake. i chose to leave that part out because i thought it might mislead people that dont know much about snakes. Thanks for the addition though.

Well, to clairify things, milk snakes do not drink milk from the cows!
Lol

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**********Misty**********
Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize that you haven't gone to sleep yet.

2.3.0 bearded dragons
0.1.0 water dragon
1.3.0 leopard geckos
12.20.0 corn snakes
1.1.0 jungle corns
2.3.0 king snakes
1.1.0 false water cobras
1.0.0 royal (Ball) pythons
0.1.0 kenyan sand boa
1.0.0 Sinaloan milk snake
0.1.0 Tri-Hybrid milk snake
0.1.0 rat snake
0.0.2 prairie ringneck snakes
0.1.0 chilean rose hair tarantula
1.1.0 emperor scorpions
1.1.0 Congo African Grey Parrots
0.1.0 German Shepherd hybrid dog

I always wanted a milksnake. Either a sinaloin or a Honduran. But not if they act like my king
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

I have discovered that milks (at least the two that I have), do not act like my corns nor my kings. Kings kinda have a "superior then thou" kinda look and attitude (IMO), and corns are very friendly and usually easy going. My two milks are wild, squirmy, and don't like to be held. Could be because they are still babies, but I don't know. I think they are beautiful, but I prefer corns or kings. But, oh how I want the black and white milk in the honduran ad on this site!!
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**********Misty**********
Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize that you haven't gone to sleep yet.

2.3.0 bearded dragons
0.1.0 water dragon
1.3.0 leopard geckos
12.20.0 corn snakes
1.1.0 jungle corns
2.3.0 king snakes
1.1.0 false water cobras
1.0.0 royal (Ball) pythons
0.1.0 kenyan sand boa
1.0.0 Sinaloan milk snake
0.1.0 Tri-Hybrid milk snake
0.1.0 rat snake
0.0.2 prairie ringneck snakes
0.1.0 chilean rose hair tarantula
1.1.0 emperor scorpions
1.1.0 Congo African Grey Parrots
0.1.0 German Shepherd hybrid dog