The Corn King and Spring Queen (Canongate Classics)

Product Information

Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN 0-394-50824-6. ( Elaphe guttata, p.604-605 + Plates 570, 608). when, therefore, the Scythians have taken some seed of this hemp, they creep under the cloths and put the seeds on the red hot stones; but this being put on smokes, and produces such a steam, that no Grecian vapour-bath would surpass it. The Scythians, transported by the vapour, shout aloud.

The leftmost creature looks partly avian – its plumage fanning from one side – and displays a single mosaic eye. The strange legend of the Arimaspi comes to mind, the legendary one-eyed tribe that battled with Gryphons, the fantastical part-eagle, part-lion creatures who laid nuggets of gold in their nests. This old Scythian mythological story has survived through the histories of Herodotus, who also described the ritual consumption of cannabis in Scythian death rituals :P. guttatus was previously placed in the genus Elaphe, but Elaphe was found to be paraphyletic by Utiger et al., leading to placement of this species in the genus Pantherophis. [20] The placement of P. guttatus and several related species in Pantherophis rather than in Elaphe has been confirmed by further phylogenetic studies. [21] [22] Many reference materials still use the synonym Elaphe guttata. [23] Molecular data have shown that the corn snake is actually more closely related to kingsnakes (genus Lampropeltis) than it is to the Old World rat snakes (genus Elaphe) with which it was formerly classified. The corn snake has even been bred in captivity with the California kingsnake ( Lampropeltis californiae) to produce fertile hybrids known as "jungle corn snakes". [24] Range [ edit ] Natural habitat [ edit ] After many generations of selective breeding, captive bred corn snakes are found in a wide variety of different colors and patterns. These result from recombining the dominant and recessive genes that code for proteins involved in chromatophore development, maintenance, or function. New variations, or morphs, become available every year as breeders gain a better understanding of the genetics involved. Greenwald, O.E.; Kanter, Mar E. (July 1979). "The Effects of Temperature and Behavioral Thermoregulation on Digestive Efficiency and Rate in Corn Snakes ( Elaphe guttata guttata)". Physiological Zoology (Vol 52ed.). The University of Chicago. 52 (3): 398–408. doi: 10.1086/physzool.52.3.30155760. S2CID 87250648 . Retrieved May 14, 2021.

When hybrids of corn snakes are found in the wild, they have usually hybridized with other Pantherophis species whose ranges overlap with corn snakes. Tri-color Jungle corn snakes are hybrids between a Querétaro kingsnake and a corn snake. The color is similar to that of an amelanistic corn snake. However; a study conducted by Dr. David Holzman of the University of Rochester in 1999 found that snakes' cognitive abilities (in specific regards to spatial learning) actually rival that of birds and rodents. [39] Holzman challenged the typical testing method that was being used by biologists to examine snakes' navigational abilities, claiming the structure of the arena itself was biologically in favor of rodents. He hypothesized that if the typical arena being used to test the animals was modified to cater to snake's innate biologically driven goals, thus providing them with problem sets that they would likely encounter in their natural environment, this would give a more accurate view of their intelligence. Hybrids between corn snakes and any other snake is very common in captivity, but rarely occurs in the wild. Hybrids within the genera Pantherophis, Lampropeltis, or Pituophis so far have been proven to be completely fertile. Corn snakes are one of the most popular types of snakes to keep in captivity or as pets, second only to the ball python. They are the most popular pet snake in Brazil. [ citation needed] Their size, calm temperament, and ease of care contribute to this popularity. Captive corn snakes tolerate being handled by their owners, even for extended periods. [41] Variations [ edit ] A docile young corn snake (an introduced species) captured from the wild on the island of Nevis, West Indies, in 2009

Allf, Bradley C.; Durst, Paul A. P.; Pfennig, David W. (October 2016). "Behavioral Plasticity and the Origins of Novelty: The Evolution of the Rattlesnake Rattle". The American Naturalist. 188 (4): 475–483. doi: 10.1086/688017. PMID 27622880. S2CID 3906174.