ANIMAL:Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus
Type of Animal:
Colubrid
Habitat:
Leafy trees/shrubs/vines near water, moist woodland, streamside forest, backyard gardens, pine barrens, piedmont, coastal plains, open forest, edge habitat, wetlands/wetland margins, river margins, moist meadows near water, tallgrass prairie near water, thickets near water, overgrown pastures near water, woodlands near water, tropical moist forest, tropical savanna, temperate broadleaf/mixed forest, marshes bordering woodlands, ponds bordering woodlands, lakes bordering woodlands, forest edges near ponds/lakes, densely vegetated areas along pond/lake shorelines, deciduous trees, shrubs, hedgerows, fields, riparian areas, upland areas, trees/shrubs along pond/stream edges
Location(s):
Found from S Midwest/S Pennsylvania/S New Jersey to all of SE US as far W as C/E Texas, C/E Oklahoma, & E Kansas. Also found in NE Mexico in Tamaulipas & E Nuevo Leon.
Appearance:
Bright green above w/ yellowish belly, very slender small snake, keeled dorsal scales, juveniles lighter than adults
Food/Diet:
Insects, insect larvae, worms, spiders, snails, small frogs
Status in Wild:
Stable
Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, wildlife centers, & herpetoculture
Lifestyle:
Usually found in groups of 3-8 snakes
Additional Info:Called:
Male
Female
Young: Snakelet
Group: Knot
Weight:
Male: 0.57 oz
Female: 0.94 oz
Young: 0.19 oz
Gestation:
1.5-4 monthsLife Span:
5-8 years
Body Length:
Male: 2.93 ft
Female: 3.1 ft
Young: 1.3 ft
Tail Length:
Male: 12.36 in
Female: 11.76 in
Young: 5.16 in
Main predators are birds, mammals, other snakes, crocodilians, & large spiders.
Active during the day (diurnal).
Sometimes called grass snakes or green grass snakes. Other names bush snake, green whip snake, vine snake, magnolia snake, keel-scaled green snake, green tree snake, green summer snake, & huckleberry snake.
Color gives them excellent camouflage, great for catching prey & hiding from predators.
Often arboreal & also very good swimmers.
Prey is simply grabbed/swallowed alive.
Breed twice a year, once in spring & once in fall-each female laying 2-14 eggs. Multiple females sometimes lay eggs in same nest & 75 eggs have been seen in single nest.
Called “rough” due to scales standing at slight right angle.
Sexually mature at 12-18 months old. Males mature before females.
Hibernate in winter.
Males court females by chin rubbing/tail waving/head jerking.
When threatened, they most often freeze & rely on camouflage.
Consists of 2 subspecies-Northern Rough Green Snake & Florida Rough Green Snake.
Fun Fact(s):
They turn blue after death.
Fairly popular in pet/reptile trade & often cost less than $10.
Extremely docile almost never biting.
