Smooth Greensnake
Opheodrys vernalis
Bright green dorsal side with white to pale yellow ventral side. Adult length 11 to 25 inches. Smooth scales. Non-venomous.
How to identify
Bright green dorsal side with white to pale yellow ventral side. Adult length 11 to 25 inches. Smooth scales. Non-venomous.
Range
Central & Eastern United States & Canada. Range includes Utah to Nova Scotia, Quebec to Texas. Primarily found in the Northeastern United States & Great Lakes region.
Habitat
Terrestrial. Open areas such as grasslands, prairies, and open forests.
Variations
Coloration can vary to brown or tan in rare instances. Juvenile coloration bluish-grey to olive green. Males have a slightly longer tail.
Similar species
Name and etymology
Genus
Opheodrys
Greek for forest (drymos) snake (opheos).
Origin
Sources
- Fitzinger, 1843. Syst. Rept., p. 26 ↗
Thamnophis. Fitzinger, 1843 - Syst. Rept., p. 26
Species epithet
vernalis
Latin for of spring.
Origin
Sources
- Grobman, 1941. Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, No. 50, p. 11, figs. 1, 2, map 1
Opheodrys vernalis blanchardi. Grobman, 1941 - Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, No. 50, p. 11, figs. 1, 2, map 1
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Size
30 to 66 cm
Range
Central & Eastern United States & Canada. Range includes Utah to Nova Scotia, Quebec to Texas. Primarily found in the Northea…
Habitat
Terrestrial. Open areas such as grasslands, prairies, and open forests.
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap