Southeastern Green Snake
Opheodrys aestivus
A slender, bright green North American snake with keeled scales, well known as a gentle, harmless resident of shrubs and vines.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.6-1.2 m (2-4 ft)
- Range
- Southeastern and central United States
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Overview
The Southeastern Green Snake, more widely known as the Rough Green Snake, is a slender colubrid common throughout the southeastern and central United States. Its vivid green coloration provides excellent camouflage among leaves and vines.
This species is entirely non-venomous and extremely docile, rarely biting even when handled, making it one of the most benign snakes encountered in its range.
How to identify it
- Bright grass-green dorsal coloration that fades to blue or yellow after death
- Keeled (ridged) dorsal scales, distinguishing it from the smooth-scaled Smooth Green Snake
- Slender body with a long, tapering tail
- Pale yellow or white belly
- Large eyes with round pupils
The keeled scales and more slender build separate it from the Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis), which occupies a more northern range.
Habitat & range
Inhabits shrubby edges, vine tangles, streamside vegetation, and open woodlands throughout the southeastern and south-central United States, extending north into parts of the Midwest. Highly arboreal, often found in low bushes and hanging vines.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal and calm-natured, moving slowly and deliberately through vegetation. It relies almost entirely on camouflage rather than aggression when threatened.
Feeds mainly on insects, spiders, and other invertebrates, actively hunting among leaves. Reproduction is oviparous, with clutches of about 3-12 eggs laid in early to mid-summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Southeastern Green Snake venomous?
No, it is non-venomous and considered harmless to humans.
How big does it get?
Adults typically reach 0.6-1.2 m (2-4 ft) in length.
How is it different from the Smooth Green Snake?
It has keeled dorsal scales, whereas the Smooth Green Snake has smooth scales; it is also generally more slender.
What does it eat?
It feeds primarily on insects and spiders found in shrubs and vines.
Southeastern Green Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Southeastern Green Snake.
