Green Snake

Green snake, any of several species of snakes in the Colubridae family named after its colour. The two species of North American green snakes belong to the genus Opheodrys. These calm, thin, and harmless snakes are frequently found in gardens. They lay eggs and feed on insects and spiders. The smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis), often known as the green grass snake, measures around 50 cm (20 inches) in length. The rough or keeled (ridged) green snake (O. aestivus), also known as the vine snake, is approximately 75 cm (23 inches) long.

To know more about green snake information, you must go through the following paragraphs. 

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Green Snake Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata

• Subphylum: Vertebrata

• Class: Reptilia

• Order: Squamata

• Family: Colubridae

• Genus: Opheodrys

• Species: Opheodrys aestivus 

Types of Green Snake

To date, there are mainly two types of green snakes discovered by zoologists. Below are the green snake names given:

• Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)

• Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis)

Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys Aestivus)

Habitat

They are more active throughout the day and are more commonly found in regions with lush vegetation surrounding water (trees, bushes, hedgerows, and fields). Rough green snakes are typically difficult to find because they mix in so well with the vegetation in which they inhabit.

Geographic Regions

The rough green snake can be found all over the southeastern United States. It can be found as far north as southern New Jersey and all the way down the East Coast to the Florida Keys. The western range extends from mid-Oklahoma to Texas and northern Mexico.

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Physical Features

Rough green snakes are short and slender. The dorsal and lateral surfaces are a consistent green colour, while the underbelly, chin, and labial scales fluctuate from yellowish-green to cream. Males and females have no colour or pattern differences, however, females are larger in length and mass, and males have a greater tail length. Juvenile rough green snakes resemble small adults but are lighter in colour. Because these snakes are diurnal and do not seek refuge from the heat of the day, their peritoneum is black and dense. This is thought to be an adaptation that works as an ultraviolet radiation barrier, preventing these snakes from overheating.

This is thought to be an adaptation that works as an ultraviolet radiation barrier, preventing these snakes from overheating. Females range in mass from 11 to 54 g, with an average of 26.7 g, whereas males range in mass from 9 to 27 g, with an average of 16.3 g. Females have an average length of 947 mm while males have an average length of 892 mm.

Behaviour and Ecology of Green Colour Snake

• Communication

Rough green snakes spend the night coiled on the tips of tree branches at the water's edge. Despite being arboreal, they spend time foraging on the ground. They are sedentary and will not bite in defence, preferring to run into the deep forest where they will blend in. Except for the cold winter months of December to February, depending on geographic location and temperature, rough green snakes are active. Hibernation is practised throughout the cold months. Rough green snakes are solitary creatures, though it is possible that they use communal egg-laying.

• Food Habits

Rough green snakes are insectivores, so they eat crickets, grasshoppers, insects, and spiders. They only pursue live prey with their remarkable vision. Even a tiny movement of a leg or antennae is enough to bring these snakes' attention to the position of their meal. According to Goldsmith (1986), these snakes use quick and erratic movements during the initial portion of their approach, but they calm down as they get closer to their victim. 

Rough green snakes assume spring-like bends with their bodies when they are approximately 3 cm from the prey, followed by a straightening of the body, allowing the snake to drive its head toward the prey, striking either at the head or thorax. Rough green snakes will occasionally raise their heads above the substrate shortly after striking to move victims away from anything that could aid their escape. Prey is worked farther into the mouth and swallowed by jaw motions. Normally, prey is consumed head first.

• Predator

Many species, including larger snakes, birds, household cats, and even spiders, prey on these snakes. Camouflage is their only protective mechanism. loggerhead shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus), hawks (Buteo species), domestic cats (Felis catus), bluejays (Cyanocitta cristata), kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getulus), and racers (Coluber constrictor) are some of the well-known predators.

Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis)

Habitat

Prairies, savannas, meadows, old fields, pastures, roadsides, unoccupied lots, stream borders, and marsh and lake edges are typical habitats for this snake. They are also found in open, moist deciduous and pine woods, as well as along forest borders. They lay their eggs in or under rotting wood, in tunnels underground, or under logs, rocks, boards, or other similar cover materials. They spend the winter in anthills and tiny mammal burrows that have been abandoned. They could hibernate in groups with other tiny snakes.

Geographic Regions

Also known as green garden snakes, smooth green snakes are found solely in the Nearctic region. They can be found from northeastern Canada to Saskatchewan, and from Illinois to Virginia. There are isolated populations in Wyoming, New Mexico, Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, Texas, and northern Mexico, as well as other parts of the western United States.

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Physical Features

It is a medium-sized snake that can grow to be 30.4 to 66 cm long as an adult (12-26 in). The head is somewhat wider than the neck and is green on top with yellow or white on the mouth, chin, and throat. The underside is white, creamy, or pale yellow in colour. Snakes that are about to shed their skin may appear olive green, but once shed, they will turn into vivid green colour. Hatchlings and small juveniles are generally duller in colour, with most being olive green and a few being brownish or bluish-grey.

Behaviour and Ecology of Smooth Green Snake

• Communication

Smooth Green snakes are mostly solitary and active from April to October. They hibernate alongside groups of other snakes, including different snake species, during the winter. Anthills and abandoned rodent burrows are examples of hibernation places. Smooth Green snakes are most active throughout the day, though in warmer conditions they may be more active in the morning and evening.

Smooth Green snakes, like other snakes, rely mostly on their sense of smell, eyesight, and detecting vibrations to locate prey. They primarily communicate with other snakes through chemical cues and body language.

• Food Habits

Smooth green snakes primarily consume insects. They prefer crickets, grasshoppers, and caterpillars, but will also consume beetles, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, snails, slugs, and occasionally frogs.

• Predator

Smooth green snakes are most likely eaten by birds like hawks and American crows, bigger snakes like milk snakes, and some mammals like raccoons and foxes. In most cases, they rely on their vivid green hue to disguise themselves. They are fast and agile and can flee rapidly, but if provoked, they will bite and thrash and smear attackers with a foul-smelling fluid.

Reproduction of Dark Green Snake

Rough green snakes utilize internal fertilisation to reproduce sexually. Males abandon their mates relatively immediately after copulation, showing that these snakes are promiscuous. Males' visual orientation towards females, approach, body contact, and body alignment are all examples of rough green snake courtship behaviour. During these stages, motor patterns including dorsal crawling, chin rubbing, tail waving, and head jerking can be observed. Once coupled with a female, a male commences tail search copulatory attempts in intense spurts followed by intervals of motionlessness.

Male rough green snakes reach sexual maturity at 21 months of age, whereas females reach sexual maturity between 21 and 33 months of age. Despite the fact that they only breed in the spring, October matings have been observed. The gestation time can range from 5 to 12 weeks depending on temperature, and they typically lay their eggs in June and July.

Males often begin reproducing in the spring of their second year, at the age of 21 months. However, only half of the females reproduce in their second spring, with the other half deferring breeding for another 12 months. Males with sexual maturity have a snout-vent length of 300 mm, while females with reproductive maturity have a snout-vent length of 360 to 400 mm.

Conservation Status of Green Head Snake

• Rough green snakes are classified as the least concerned species. No conservation actions are planned due to their apparent population stability.

• Smooth green snake populations have been falling, and local populations have been wiped out across their range. This is primarily due to habitat devastation and pesticide usage. Because they eat mostly insects, they are especially vulnerable to the effects of insecticides, which are extensively used in agricultural regions.

Did You Know?

• The rough green snake's skin becomes blue immediately after it dies.

• Smooth Green snakes, like most snakes, do poorly in captivity. They do not eat and do not live long.

• Although rough green snakes prefer to nest in trees, they are also excellent swimmers.

• According to some legends, a green snake can represent future growth, healing from health concerns, or the start of a new life because the colour green is related to Nature, Renewal, Growth, and Rebirth. It might also represent a lack of experience and the need for development.

Conclusion

According to many zoologists, the rough green snake is a non-venomous snake with a long, thin, vivid green body. It prefers leafy trees and shrubs in densely forested environments. Rough green snakes eat mostly insects like crickets, caterpillars, and grasshoppers, but they also consume snails, spiders, and small frogs. They use their keen vision to locate and pursue prey. These snakes are non-venomous and do not bite.