{{Short description|Genus of snakes}} {{Italic title}} {{Automatic taxobox | name = ''Opheodrys'' | image = {{Easy CSS image crop|Image=Rough Greensnake, Corolla, NC 27927, USA imported from iNaturalist photo 74979719.jpg|desired_width=250|crop_right_perc=40|crop_left_perc=20|crop_bottom_perc=50|crop_top_perc=15}} | image_caption = ''Opheodrys aestivus'' | image2 = {{Easy CSS image crop|Image=Opheodrys vernalis 105499403.jpg|crop_left_perc=20|crop_top_perc=10|desired_width=250}} | image2_caption = ''Opheodrys vernalis'' | taxon = Opheodrys | authority = Fitzinger, 1843 | synonyms = ''Chlorosoma, Phyllophilophis'',<ref>Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Ithaca and London: Comstock. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes). (Genus ''Opheodrys'', pp. 551–564, Figures 164–166, Map 43).</ref> ''Liochlorophis'' }} <!-- [[File:North American green snake, San Antonio Zoo DSCN0681.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Green snake at San Antonio Zoo in San Antonio, Texas]] -->

'''''Opheodrys''''' is a genus of small to medium-sized nonvenomous colubrid snakes commonly referred to as '''green snakes'''. In North America the genus consists of two distinct species. As their common names imply, the rough green snake has keeled dorsal scales, whereas the smooth green snake has smooth dorsal scales.

== Taxonomy == The genus ''Opheodrys'' at one time included two Asian species: ''O. herminae'', which is endemic to Japan, and ''O. major'', which is endemic to Central/South China, Taiwan, N. Vietnam, and Laos. These were removed from the genus by Cundall in 1981<ref name="CNAH">{{cite web|title=CNAH|url=http://www.cnah.org/detail.asp?id=211|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030927051908/http://www.cnah.org/detail.asp?id=211|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-09-27}}</ref> *''Opheodrys herminae'' <small>(Boettger, 1895)</small> = ''Ptyas herminae'' <small>(Boettger, 1895)</small> – Sakashima green snake<ref>{{EMBL species|genus=Ptyas|species=herminae}} www.reptile-database.org.</ref> *''Opheodrys major'' <small>(Günther, 1858)</small> = ''Ptyas major'' <small>(Günther, 1858)</small> – greater green snake<ref>{{EMBL species|genus=Ptyas|species=major}} www.reptile-database.org.</ref>

===Subspecies=== The following subspecies of ''Opheodrys'' are no longer recognized by ITIS:<ref name="ITIS">{{cite web|title=''Opheodrys''. ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System)|url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=174171}}</ref> *''Opheodrys aestivus aestivus'' <small>(Linnaeus, 1766)</small> – northern rough green snake *''Opheodrys aestivus carinatus'' <small>Grobman, 1984</small> – Florida rough green snake *''Opheodrys vernalis blanchardi'' <small>Grobman, 1941</small> – western smooth green snake *''Opheodrys vernalis borealis'' <small>Grobman, 1992</small> – northern smooth green snake *''Opheodrys vernalis vernalis'' <small>(Harlan, 1827)</small> – eastern smooth green snake.

However, as of May 2023, The Reptile Database still recognizes the subspecies ''O. aestivus carinatus'' in addition to the nominotypical subspecies ''O. a. aestivus''.<ref>{{EMBL species|genus=Opheodrys|species=aestivus}} www.reptile-database.org.</ref>

==Species== thumb|Smooth green snake (''O. vernalis'') {{Easy CSS image crop|Image=Rough Greensnake, Corolla, NC 27927, USA imported from iNaturalist photo 160342746.jpg|desired_width=250|crop_bottom_perc=30|crop_top_perc=20|crop_right_perc=15|align=right|caption=Rough green snake (''O. aestivus'')}} The following two species are recognized as being valid.<ref name="ITIS" /> {| class="wikitable" |+ !Image !Species !Common name |- | |''Opheodrys aestivus'' <small>(Linnaeus, 1766)</small> |rough green snake |- |frameless |''Opheodrys vernalis'' <small>(Harlan, 1827)</small> |smooth green snake |} ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Opheodrys''.

==Geographic range== {{Easy CSS image crop|Image=Rough Greensnake, Blounts Creek, NC 27814, USA imported from iNaturalist photo 249236049.jpg|desired_width=250|align=right|caption=The keeled scalation of the rough green snake (''O. aestivus'') which distinguishes it from the smooth green snake (''O. vernalis'')|crop_top_perc=30|crop_bottom_perc=20}} Green snakes of the genus ''Opheodrys'' are found in the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico.<ref>Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). ''Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification''. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. {{ISBN|0-307-13666-3}}. (''Opheodrys'', pp. 188–189).</ref>

==Description== Green snakes are so named because they are typically solid green in color dorsally, with a cream-colored or yellow underside. They are thin-bodied snakes that rarely exceed 90&nbsp;cm (around 36&nbsp;inches) in length.<ref>Conant R (1975). ''A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition''. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1-42. {{ISBN|0-395-19979-4}} (hardcover), {{ISBN|0-395-19977-8}} (paperback). (''Opheodrys'', pp. 184–186 + Plate 25 + Maps 134–135).</ref> They have large eyes and blunt shaped heads.

==Habitat== Green snakes are often found in dense, low lying vegetation near a permanent water source.<ref name="BehlerKing">Behler JL, King FW (1979). ''The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians''. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. {{ISBN|0-394-50824-6}}. (''Opheodrys'', pp. 639–641+ Plates 475–477).</ref>

==Behavior== Green snakes have been known to follow human activity. They rely on their color for camouflage and will usually attempt to escape if threatened.

==Diet== Their primary diet is soft-bodied arthropods, including crickets, spiders, moths, butterflies, and grasshoppers.<ref name="BehlerKing"/>

==Reproduction== Green snakes of the genus ''Opheodrys'' are oviparous.<ref>Schmidt KP, Davis DD (1941). ''Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (''Opheodrys'', pp. 118–121, Figures 27–28 + Plate 12 on p. 332).</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *Fitzinger L (1843). ''Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus, Amblyglossae''. Vienna: Braumüller & Seidel. 106 pp. + indices. (''Opheodrys'', new genus, p.&nbsp;26). (in Latin).

==External links== {{Commons|Opheodrys aestivus}} *[http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=26 Smooth Green Snake – ''Opheodrys vernalis''] Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide *[https://georgiawildlife.com/laws-native-wildlife Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Laws Related to Native Wildlife] "The following list of species native to Georgia may not be held as a pet regardless of its origin or morphology: …, Rough Green Snake, …"

{{Taxonbar|from=Q783773}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Opheodrys Category:Snake genera Category:Snakes of North America Category:Taxa named by Leopold Fitzinger