smooth greensnake

(Opheodrys vernalis)

Conservation Status
smooth greensnake
Photo by Jeff LeClere
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

S4 - Apparently Secure

 
  Minnesota

not listed

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

 
           
 
Description
 
 

Adults can be from 12 to 24 in length, though they are usually no more than 20 long. The scales are smooth, not keeled.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

14 to 20

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

This is the only bright green snake found in Minnesota.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Grassy areas: meadows, prairies, savannas, and woodland edges

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Lifespan

 
 

Unknown, but presumed 4 to 10 years

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

Mostly soft-bodies insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars, but also grubs, worms, and spiders.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 14, 24, 29, 30, 74, 76, 78.

 
  1/21/2023      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Widespread in Minnesota but in scattered populations

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Reptilia (reptiles)  
  Superorder Lepidosauria  
  Order Squamata (snakes and lizards)  
  Suborder Serpentes (snakes)  
  Infraorder Alethinophidia  
  Superfamily Colubroidea  
 

Family

Colubridae (colubrid snakes)  
 

Subfamily

Colubrinae  
 

Genus

Opheodrys (green snakes)  
       
 

This species was formerly classified as Opheodrys vernalis and contained three subspecies. The genus Opheodrys contained only two species. A study of the genus by Oldham and Smith in 1991 found significant categorical differences between the two species that suggest divergent evolution. The author separated this species into its own genus, Liochlorophis. Crother in 2000 rejected the split. An analysis of the available evidence by Walley in 2003 supported the split. The same analysis rejected recognition of the three subspecies. Most print and online sources continue to refer to this species by its former classification, and consider Liochlorophis vernalis a synonym. The use of the genus Liochlorophis, though appropriate, has fallen out of usage.

 
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Liochlorophis vernalis

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

grass snake

smooth green snake

smooth greensnake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Jeff LeClere

 
    smooth greensnake      
 

Keith Granby

 
 

seen this little snake crossing the driveway

 
    smooth greensnake      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Smooth Green Snake
Nick Scobel
  Smooth Green Snake  
 
About

Opheodrys vernalis

 
Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis)
Mike Day
  Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis)  
Opheodrys vernalis
Todd Pierson
  Opheodrys vernalis  
 
About

Smooth Greensnake

 
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Dan W. Andree

 
  "Smooth Green Snake" A quick look
Nov 2, 2023
 
   
 
About

I was out on a prairie area and noticed a movement in the grass off to the right side of me. I looked and a green snake was down in the grasses. A hard angle I had to twist around slowly and stand twisted to film it for a short time before it quickly moved out of sight. The snake wasn't very big maybe around 15-18 inches in length.

   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Western Smooth Green Snake (Colubridae: Opheodrys vernalis blanchardi) Locomotion
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 22, 2012

Photographed at Fort Mandan, Washburn, North Dakota (20 July 2012).

 
  Smooth Green Snake head start
Daily Reptile News
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 31, 2012

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  Snakes of PA: Smooth green snake - timesleader.com
timesleadervideo
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Nov 25, 2008

Outdoors reporter Tom Venesky and naturalist Rick Koval introduce viewers to the smooth green snake, snake number seven in "Snakes of Luzerne County." n snake. For more videos, visit timesleader.com.

 
  Eastern Smooth Green Snake
Flaxalf
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Oct 12, 2011

Found quite a few of these awesome little snakes in the yard this summer.

 
       

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this reptile.

 
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Be sure to include a location.
 
  TMJacobson
9/7/2021

Location: Lake Bronson State Park

We saw a smooth green snake in Lake Bronson State Park’s Two Rivers Campground on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. 

 
  Sarah and Claire Fritsch
4/30/2021

Location: Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge drive

 

 
  Keith Granby
9/12/2017

Location: Cass County

seen this little snake crossing the driveway

smooth greensnake

 
  Jeff LeClere
2006

Location: Pope County

smooth greensnake

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

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