 |
| Rough Greensnakes are excellent climbers. |
One of the most beautiful and harmless snakes in Texas is the aptly named Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus). Its genus is derived from the Greek ophios meaning ‘serpent’, and drys meaning ‘tree.’ It has a 22 to 32 inch long and slender bright green body, which fades to yellow or yellow-green on the sides near its abdomen. Common to the eastern two-thirds of Texas, this snake is also colloquially called grass snake, green tree snake, and vine snake, but it gets its most recognized common name from its dorsal or topside scales, which are rough or ‘keeled’, having a ridge down the center rather than being smooth.
Primarily arboreal, the Rough Greensnake is found in open deciduous forest, pastures, and suburban gardens, most frequently those adjoining a watercourse such as a creek, stream, lake, river, or upland ravine. It climbs into bushes, shrubs, and trees, favoring those with horizontal rather than vertical growth, both for protection and to forage for food. It hunts crickets, grasshoppers, and spiders, as well as caterpillars of butterflies and moths. Rough Greensnakes are diurnal, and they sleep at night coiled up on branches of vegetation. Active most months of the year except for December through February, they take refuge in the cooler months hiding under rocks, logs, or debris.
 |
| Rough Greensnakes are also called 'grass snakes', due to their bright green bodies that fade to yellow on their sides and abdomen. |
One of the most curious facts about this snake, and others in this genus, is that they turn blue shortly after death. Yellow pigment combines with blue pigment to give the snake its vibrant green color during life, but when it dies, the yellow pigment breaks down quickly and only the blue pigment remains. Rough Greensnakes may be confused with Smooth Greensnakes (O. vernalis), but the latter, while similar in color, is shorter in length, has smooth dorsal scales, and occurs only as a relict population along the Gulf Coast of Texas.
While Rough Greensnakes become active as early as March, they mate in June and July, with females laying clutches of eggs in the second half of summer, typically in a depression under a flat rock. Incubation is short – only 4 to 24 days – since embryonic development begins while the eggs are still in the female’s body. These snakes can be most active in August or September, when the young emerge and are foraging for food, often in grassy lawns. Be alert for these snakes when mowing grass at this time of year, as they are beautiful, harmless, and beneficial creatures!
