Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Why do Okeetee's get bigger than other varieties of corns, and how big do they average? Also, does anyone know why they are so bright when they are a naturally occurring cornsnake? Thanks for any help.

Mike

First of all, I really don't think of size as a major issue with these snakes. They may, on the average, be a few inches longer. But individual differences from animal to animal plus environmental influences will vary more than this.

As for the natural color: This seems to be an example of one of the many naturally occurring morphs. Unlike many, however, this one was not extreme enough to be maladaptive and so these animals were able to pass on their unique genes in their geographic location. It is noteworthy that this is one of the variants which IS named for a geographic area. Duffy

Actually, I don't believe there are that many people who have had the oppertunity to spend alot of time hunting Okeetee for naturally occurring adult corns at least not in the past 20 years or so. Most if not all of the plantations in the region are off limits to snake hunters. Locals and road cruiser (and poachers) still see plenty though.

In the old days, the 60's and early 70's, we found the Okeetee and Good Hope corns to average larger than most. The great majority were 4 1/2' but usually closer to five. Five foot plus was the norm and I personally collected one slightly over six feet in length on Okeetee. The adjacent offshore barrier island snakes averaged even bigger and some were six and a half!

I personally believe that Okeetee corns are larger and *generally* brighter colored than in other parts of their range, although they usually do develop the dusky longitudinal striping that everybody hates. This comes with age as does some darkening. I believe Kauffeld said that the prettiest were around three to three and a half feet. Interestingly, the monster I mentioned above had no striping and was the brightest and cleanest corn I ever caught on the Okeetee! Certainly an exception to the rule. The finest corn I ever caught was four feet long and coiled perfectly four feet above the ground on a palmetto frond south of Valdosta, GA!

Cheers, Terry

that they like okeetees BECAUSE they are a naturally occuring phase. Yet what MOST people really want looks nothing like most of the corns that you would find in Jasper County, SC. The wild corns there do tend to have a cetain "look" to them (big blotches and nice black borders), but are generally much darker, often with longitudinal striping; some older adults are almost black looking. Most people who have seen selectively bred okeetees would be disappointed with the brightness of wild caught okeetees, except for that "one in a thousand" beauty that is occasioanlly seen. Breeders have been working with these animals for quite a few generations now, and we don't always select for the same traits that Mother Nature does!

Thank you!