Fauna
Reptile

Rough Green Snake

Opheodrys aestivus

Also known as Grass Snake, Green Grass Snake, Rough Green Tree Snake

Rough green snakes are slender, highly arboreal reptiles that spend their days climbing through low branches, shrubs, and tall grasses. Their bright green coloration and keeled scales provide exceptional camouflage among leaves, often swaying in time with the breeze to mimic vegetation. Unlike most snakes, they feed almost exclusively on soft-bodied invertebrates such as caterpillars, crickets, and spiders.

ArborealCamouflagedInsectivorous
Rough Green Snake reference1 / 7
(c) Joseph McPhail, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyCaterpillars, Grasshoppers, Spiders
Predators
  • Hawks
  • Kingsnakes
  • Domestic Cats
ThreatsPesticide broad spraying, habitat destruction, road mortality
HabitatsOvergrown fields, forest edges, thickets, stream margins, wetlands
Life span5–8 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilyColubridae
  2. GenusOpheodrys
  3. SpeciesOpheodrys aestivus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Harmless and non-venomous; safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Look in shrubs: Scan low bushes and vine tangles near water during warm sunny mornings.
  • Watch for swaying: Look for green stems moving rhythmically against the wind pattern.
  • Keep distance: Observe without grasping, as wild individuals stress easily when handled.
Related species
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