Opheodrys aestivus

Opheodrys aestivus
Opheodrys aestivus, rough green snake
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Opheodrys
Species:
O. aestivus
Binomial name
Opheodrys aestivus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Synonyms
  • 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 colubrid. 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.