A small green snake found in open habitats.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The smooth green snake is a species of North American nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is also referred to as the grass snake. It is a slender, "small medium" snake that measures 36–51 cm (14–20 in) as an adult. It gets its common name from its smooth dorsal scales, as opposed to the rough green snake, which has keeled dorsal scales. The smooth green snake is found in marshes, meadows, open woods, and along stream edges, and is native to regions of Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. A non-aggressive snake, it seldom bites and usually flees when threatened. It mates in late spring to summer, and females lay their eggs from June to September. The smooth green snake will often bob its head in order to mimic vegetation blowing in the wind.
Source: Wikipedia — Smooth green snake Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Slender snake with three yellow stripes (one dorsal, two lateral); olive-brown background.
Similar species. Garter snakes (similar pattern but different scale arrangement). Ribbon snakes (similar but slimmer).
Voice. Hisses defensively.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Small mammals, lizards, snakes.
Behavior. Non-venomous snake of central US grasslands. Active hunter.
§ Range
Eastern North America
§ Habitat
Open meadows, grasslands
§ Threats
Habitat loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the eastern smooth green snake is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain native meadows.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Smooth green snake
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Opheodrys vernalis
- IUCN Red List · taxon 63851
- iNaturalist · taxon 29381
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Opheodrys vernalis
§ Sources cited
- Davidson College Department of Biology
- IUCN Red List 2007
