Reptile · GBIF taxon 8984671
Rough Green Snake
Opheodrys aestivusAlso 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
Licensed reference(c) Joseph McPhail, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Caterpillars
- 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
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyColubridae
- SpeciesOpheodrys aestivus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- 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.
Co-Occurring Colubrid Wilson44691 / Public domain · cc0
Co-Occurring Colubrid (c) Tom Norton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Co-Occurring Viper Wikimedia Commons / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) Dustin Snider, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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