Rough Greensnake
Opheodrys aestivus
Size
20–30 in
Status
Uncommon
Venomous
No
Region
Southern Indiana
A slender, bright green snake that lives in shrubs and vines near water. Gentle, harmless, and beautifully camouflaged.
Identification
A very slim, vivid green snake with a yellow to cream belly and keeled (slightly rough) scales. It is longer and more arboreal than the Smooth Green Snake. Adults reach 2–2.5 feet but are pencil-thin.
Habitat & Diet
Climbs through streamside shrubs, vines, and low trees, where its green color hides it among leaves. It feeds mainly on insects, spiders, and caterpillars.
Conservation in Indiana
Uncommon and easily overlooked. It depends on dense streamside and woodland-edge vegetation and is sensitive to habitat clearing and pesticides.
Similar Species & Taxonomy
The Rough Greensnake is told from the Smooth Greensnake by its keeled (not smooth) scales, longer tail, and strongly climbing, vine-like habit in shrubs and streamside vegetation. A slender, arboreal, insect- and spider-eating snake that fades to blue after death. A greensnake (family Colubridae) of the genus Opheodrys; the rough and smooth greensnakes have at times been placed in separate genera.
United States Range Map Distribution
Distribution in Indiana
