Description Of A Corn Snake 介绍玉米蛇
Corn snakes are slender with a length of 24 - 72 inches (61 to 182 cm) 6 feet... They are usually orange or brownish-yellow, with large, black-edged red blotches down the middle of the back. On the belly are alternating rows of black and white marks, resembling a checkerboard pattern. Considerable variation occurs in the coloration and patterns of individual snakes, depending on the age of the snake and the region of the country in which it is found. Hatchlings lack much of the bright coloration found on adults. Corn snakes are primarily diurnal. They readily climb trees and enter abandoned buildings in search of prey. However, they are very secretive and spend most of their time underground prowling through rodent burrows. They also often hide under loose bark and beneath logs, rocks, and other debris during the day.
玉米蛇体形细长一般在24 - 72英寸(61到182 cm) 6英尺之间… 他们通常是橙色或黄褐色,背上有黑色的线条和红色的斑块。 在腹部上有黑白交替的花纹,类似国际棋盘。根据不同国家地区,又可以找到不同变异花纹的玉米蛇。玉米蛇幼体没有成体颜色鲜艳。 玉米蛇主要在晚上活动。他们悄然爬上树木或者建筑物去寻找食物。他们花费大量们时在地上四处寻觅啮齿类动物的洞穴。日间他们经常掩藏在树干、岩石和其他残骸之下。
Distribution and habitat 分布与栖息地
Corn snakes are found in the eastern United States from southern New Jersey south through Florida, west into Louisiana and parts of Kentucky. However, corn snakes are most abundant in Florida and the south-eastern U.S. Corn snakes may be found in wooded groves, rocky hillsides, meadowlands, woodlots, barns, and abandoned buildings.
玉米蛇从美国新泽西州南部经过佛罗里达州,西部至路易斯安那州及肯塔基州。 当然,玉米蛇在美国东南部及佛罗里达州分布量最丰富的。在繁茂的树丛、岩石山坡、草地、人造林地、谷仓和废弃建筑里都能找到玉米蛇的足迹。
Diet in the wild 野外的食物
Corn snakes do not usually feed every day instead they feed every few days. Young hatchlings tend to feed on lizards and tree frogs, while adults feed on larger prey, such as mice, rats, birds, and bats. They are constrictors. First a corn snake bites the prey in order to obtain a firm grip, then it quickly wraps one or more coils of its body around the victim. The snake squeezes tightly until it suffocates the prey. Then it swallows the food whole, usually head first. However, corn snakes have also been observed swallowing small prey alive.
玉米蛇不应该每天都喂食,每次喂食之间相隔一些日子反而更好。 幼体玉米蛇倾向于捕食小鱼和蜥蜴,成体则需要个体更大的猎物,例如白鼠、家鼠、鸟类和蝙蝠。 他们的捕食过程属于绞杀型。首先玉米蛇利用口器牢固地咬住猎物,然后利用自身细长的身体迅速将猎物缠绕几圈,同时身体进行强而有利的收缩,直到猎物窒息而死。 然后通常从猎物的头部开始吞食猎物。对于个体较小的猎物玉米蛇会直接吞食而不需要绞杀。
Zoo diet 动物园里的食物
They are fed mice, rats, and chicks.
动物园里一般喂食白鼠、田鼠和小鸡。
Life span 寿命
The life span of the snake is up to 23 years in captivity, but is generally much less in the wild.
人工饲养玉米蛇的寿命可以到达２３年,而野外生活的玉米蛇则稍短。
Status 状态状态
Corn snakes are not an endangered species. However, they are listed by the state of Florida as a Species of Special Concern because they face habitat loss and destruction in the lower Florida Keys. Corn snakes are often mistaken for copperheads and killed. They are also popular as pets. They are the most frequently bred snake species for pet purposes. However they are sometimes captured in the wild to be sold as pets. This does not seem to pose a serious threat to this species at this time.
玉米蛇并不属于危险种类。然而,因为他们面对在更低的佛罗里达钥匙的栖所损失和破坏他们由佛罗里达州列出作为特殊利害关系的种类。 玉米蛇经常被误认为是毒蛇而被杀害。玉米蛇普遍被作为宠物并得到大量的繁殖。虽然有一定数量的野生玉米蛇被\0
