Opheodrys aestivus
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| Rough Green Snake | ||||||||||||||||
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| Opheodrys aestivus (Linnaeus, 1766) |
The Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) is a non-venomous North American snake. It is sometimes Grass Snake or Green Grass Snake, but these names are more commonly applied to the Smooth Green Snake, Opheodrys vernalis. (The European colubrid called Grass Snake is unrelated.) The Rough Green Snake is docile, often allowing close approach by humans, and seldom, if ever, bites.
The snake is bright green above and has a yellowish belly, affording it excellent camouflage in green vegetation. It grows up to 40 inches (102 cm) in length and is very thin. The Rough Green Snake ranges throughout the Southeastern United States, from Kansas and Texas east to New Jersey and south to Florida. It is absent from the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains. It is also found in northeastern Mexico, including the state of Tamaulipas and eastern Nuevo León. Its preferred habitat is moist meadows and woodlands, often near water. It is highly arboreal, frequently found climbing in low vegetation, and is also a good swimmer. However it is often found on the ground as well. Unlike many snakes, it is largely diurnal. Its diet consists mostly of insects and other terrestrial arthropods, but some snails and tree frogs are eaten as well. This snake is not a constrictor--most prey are grabbed and simply swallowed alive.
Predators of the Rough Green Snake include birds, spiders, and other snakes, such as the Eastern Racer, Coluber constrictor and the Eastern King snake, Lampropeltis getula.
The Rough Green Snake breeds in spring, and sometimes again in fall. Females lay 3-12 eggs, occasionally in a communal nest shared by more than one female. Up to 75 eggs have been found in one such nest. The nest site varies: under boards, under bark in rotting stumps, in deep mulch, or under a rock. Hatchlings from spring breeding typically emerge in August or September, and are about 20 cm in length.
The Rough Green Snake is widespread and is not of conservation concern, in general. However urban development, especially the reduction of vegetation near waterways, may reduce their numbers. Many are killed on roads, and they may be susceptible to poisoning by pesticides used on their insect prey.
[edit] Subspecies
- Northern Rough Green Snake, Opheodrys aestivus aestivus (Linnaeus, 1766)
- Florida Rough Green Snake, Opheodrys aestivus carinatus (Grobman, 1984)
[edit] Captivity
The Rough Green Snake is a very attractive but difficult to maintain species in captivity. Because it needs a very precise humidity, heat, and dietary needs this snake is best left to the most experienced keepers.
[edit] References
- Aardema et al. Amphibians and Reptiles of North Carolina--accessed 29 May 2006
- Conant et al. (1998). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-90452-8.
- Cook, Will. Carolina Nature--accessed 29 May 2006.
- Gibbons, Whit, Michael E. Dorcas, and J. Whitfield Gibbons (2005). Snakes Of The Southeast. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. ISBN 0-8203-2652-6.
- Martof et al. (1980). Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-4252-4.
- Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2006. Animal Diversity Web. Accessed May 29, 2006.
- Palmer, William M., Alvin L. Braswell, Renaldo Kuhler (1995). Reptiles of North Carolina. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-2158-6.
- University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecological Laboratory, Animal Fact Sheets--accessed 1 June 2006
- University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecological Laboratory, Reptiles and Amphibians of South Carolina and Georgia--accessed 1 June 2006
