Opheodrys
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Opheodrys is a genus of small colubrid snakes commonly referred to as green snakes. The genus consists of two distinct species with five recognized subspecies.
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[edit] Species
- Rough Green Snake, Opheodrys aestivus
- Smooth Green Snake, Opheodrys vernalis
[edit] Range
Green snakes are found throughout the United States, southern Canada and northern Mexico.
[edit] Description
Green snakes are so named because they are typically solid green in color with a cream colored or yellow underside. They are thin bodied snakes that rarely exceed 80 cm (31.5 inches) in length. They have large eyes and blunt shaped heads.
[edit] Behavior & Diet
Green snakes are often found in dense, low lying vegetation near a permanent water source. They rely on their color for camouflage and will usually attempt to escape if threatened. Their primary diet is soft bodied arthropods, including crickets, spiders, moths, butterflies, and grasshoppers. Green snakes are oviparous.
[edit] In captivity
Green snakes are often kept in captivity. They hold no particular conservation status, so specimens caught in the wild are readily available in the exotic pet trade. In the northern areas of their range, O. vernalis is more commonly sold, and in the south O. aestivus is more commonly sold. Captive breeding is not commonplace. They make good captives, but can be prone to stress if not set up in a naturalistic vivarium that makes them feel secure. Their insect diet makes them attractive to reptile keepers that do not wish to deal with a rodent eating snake.
[edit] References
- Genus Opheodrys at the EMBL Reptile Database
