Opheodrys vernalis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Smooth Green Snake
A Smooth Green Snake in Ontario
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Genus: Opheodrys Species: O. vernalis
Binomial name
Opheodrys vernalis (Harlan, 1827)

The Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis, sometimes Liochlorophis vernalis) is a non-venomous North American snake, found in Ontario (Hamilton), and almost every northern state in the United States of America also called a 'Grass Snake' in American English. It is a snake of increasing conservation concern in some U.S. states.

The snake is bright green and found mainly in moist meadows, prairies and clearings in coniferous forest. They are almost entirely insectivorous eating mainly crickets, grasshoppers, and smooth caterpillars.

These snakes tend to range in lengths of 12 to 36 inches, a relatively small snake. The females give birth to very small cylindrical eggs. There are usually 3 to 13 eggs. They may hatch in as little as 4 days.

[edit] External links

• Green Snake Species Account from Iowa Online Field Guide

[edit] References

1. ^ Cox, N., Chanson, J.S. & Stuart, S.N. (Global Reptile Assessment Coordinating Team) (2008). Liochlorophis vernalis. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2008. Retrieved on 14 Oct 2008.