The Smooth Green Snake is a non-venomous species of colubrid snake that is native to parts of North America.
These snakes are the most vibrant green snake in all of the United States. It is closely related to the Rough Green Snake.
It is sometimes referred to as the grass snake and can grow to almost 2 feet in length with a slender build.
Smooth Green Snake Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Smooth Green Snake belongs to the Colubridae or Colubrid family of snakes. This is the largest family of Snakes in the world consisting of many popular species such as Corn Snakes and Milk Snakes.
With around 250 different genera of Colubrids, these snakes can be found on every continent except Antarctica which also makes them the most widely distributed family of snake in the world.
The vast majority of Colubrid snakes are non-venomous, or at least contain a venom that isn’t considered to be medically significant to humans.
However, there are a number of species of Colubrid snakes that contain venom capable of killing humans. This includes species from the Boiga and Rhabdophis genera as well as other snakes such as the Boomslang.
Genus
The genus that the Smooth Green Snake belongs to is called Opheodrys. This genus contains only two species of snakes, which are referred to as the ‘Green Snakes’.
The easiest way to distinguish between these two species is given to us in their name. The Rough Green Snake has keeled scales giving them a rough feel while the Smooth Green Snake has a much smoother feel to it as the scales are unkeeled.
Species
The scientific name for the Smooth Green Snake is Opheodrys vernalis and there are currently no recognised sub-species.
The species was first described in 1827 by an American palaeontologist named Richard Harlan.
Smooth Green Snake Description
The Smooth Green Snake, as its name suggests has smooth scales. This is in contrast with its close relative, the Rough Green Snake who has heavily keeled scales.
They are experts at camouflage, blending perfectly into their grassland habitat with their bright green coloration.
They are a relatively small species of snake, growing to a maximum length of under 2 feet. However, many specimens will grow to just over a foot in length.
The head is slightly pronounced from the neck and has a green coloration on top like the rest of the snake’s body bit the underside is white.
The belly of the snake is also white in color but can sometimes appear more ‘off-white’ or yellowish in color.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Smooth Green Snake is common throughout much of the North-Eastern United States and parts of South-Eastern Canada.
There is also a large population of these snakes in an are of the Central United States.
In Canada, these snakes can be found as far East as Nova Scotia with their range extending as far West as parts of Saskatchewan.
In the Eastern United States they can be found as far North as Maine with their range extending down along the coast as far as the New York area.
From here, their range starts to extend inland. They can be found in places such as Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.
They can also be found in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dacota, South Dacota and Nebraska.
In the Central United States, the Smooth Green Snake can be found in places such as Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
The Smooth Green Snake likes to live in grassy areas that contain a bit of moisture such as prairies, meadows, pastures and meadows.
They can also be found along the grassy banks of water sources such as along the banks of rivers and lakes.
Smooth Green Snake Behaviour
The Smooth Green Snake is a diurnal species, meaning they are mostly active during the day and sleep at night.
However, in excessively hot weather, they can change their behaviour and become active at dusk and dawn and shelter from the heat during the day.
They spend the majority of their time on the ground but can also be found in low lying bushes and vegetation. They will often take refuge under rocks or fallen logs.
They are a solitary species but during the colder winter months, they are known to hibernate in groups in places such as Anthill mounds and abandoned rodent burrows.
They are even known to share these hibernation sites with snakes of other species. This is simply just animals sharing limited resources as opposed to a group activity.