Opheodrys aestivus

Opheodrys aestivus
Rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Opheodrys
Species:
O. aestivus
Binomial name
Opheodrys aestivus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Synonyms
List
    • Coluber æstivus
      Linnaeus, 1766
    • Leptophis æstivus
      Bell, 1826
    • Herpetodryas æstivus
      Schlegel, 1837
    • Cyclophis æstivus
      Günther, 1858
    • Opheodrys æstivus
      Cope, 1860
    • Liopeltis æstivus
      Jan, 1863
    • Phyllophilophis æstivus
      Garman, 1892
    • Contia æstiva
      Boulenger, 1894
    • Opheodrys aestivus
      Stejneger & Barbour, 1917

Opheodrys aestivus, commonly known as the rough green snake, is a nonvenomous North American snake in the colubrid family. It is sometimes called grass snake or green grass snake, but these names are more commonly applied to the smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis). The European colubrid called grass snake (Natrix natrix) is not closely related. The rough green snake is docile, often allowing close approach by humans, and rarely bites. Even when bites occur, they have no venom and are harmless.