Rough Green Snake, Opheodrys aestivus (Linnaeus, 1766). Photographed in Jackson County, Illinois. Rough Green Snakes are usually associated with water courses in wooded areas. This is an arboreal snake that may forage on the ground. It is usally less than 750 mm in total length, however, the maximum length is probably about 1159 mm. Females lay clutches of 1-14 eggs in June-July, with an avergae clutch size of about 5.9 eggs.
The Smooth Green Snake, Liochlorophis vernalis (Harlan, 1827). Photographed in Will County, Illinois. Above is an adult shedding its skin. Below is a neonate that has just emerged from the egg. O. vernalis ranges from Nova Scotia and Manatoba westward to Utah and New Mexico southeastward to Virginia. It inhabits mesic prairies, bogs, wet meadows, and marsh borders. It is frequently associated with ant nests and it may use the nests for hibernation and egg deposition.
The Smooth Green Snake, Liochlorophis vernalis (Harlan, 1827). Photographed in southern Wisconsin.
Habitat for the Smooth Green Snake, Liochlorophis vernalis, in southern Wisconsi. Areas with thick green ground vegetation are the preferred habitats of green snakes. Fields, wet meadows, bogs, marsh edges and open woodlands provide the kind of concealment cover required by these small snakes. Old building that are surrounded with boards and tin make excellent habitat of these snakes.
