Opheodrys

Opheodrys is a genus of small to medium-sized non-venomous 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. The following two species are recognized as being valid. Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Opheodrys. 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 The following subspecies of Opheodrys are no longer recognized by ITIS: Green snakes of the genus Opheodrys are found in the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico& India. 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 cm (around 36 inches) in length. They have large eyes and blunt shaped heads. Green snakes are often found in dense, low lying vegetation near a permanent water source.