Rough Green Snake
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Rough Green Snake
(Opheodrys aestivus)
Description: 20-45 5/8" (51-115.9 cm). Slender arboreal snake; uniform pea-green with a long tapering tail. Belly white to yellowish green. Hatchlings greenish-gray. Scales keeled, in 17 rows. Anal plate divided.
Subspecies: Northern Rough Green Snake (O. a. aestivus), larger than more southernly subspecies, ventral scales whitish; found throughout species range except southern Florida. Florida Rough Green Snake (O. a. carinatus), smaller than Northern, yellow scales below; Florida, from Tampa-Orlando south to the Keys.
Breeding: Mates spring and fall. Lays 3-12 smooth, rather hard, capsule-shaped eggs, 1 1/2" (28 mm) long, June to August. Young hatch in 5-12 weeks, are 7-8 5/8" (18-22 cm) long. Mature in 1-2 years.
Habitat: Vines, bushes, and trees near water; sea level to 5,000' (1,500 m).
Range: S. New Jersey west to e. Kansas, south to Florida Keys west through Texas into e. Mexico. Isolated populations in se. Iowa, ne. Missouri, w. Texas, and ne. New Mexico.
Discussion: A graceful, mild-tempered tree-dweller. Abroad during the day, it moves slowly through vegetation in search of grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, and spiders. Swims well and may take to water when disturbed.