Rough Greensnake

Greensnakes are highly arboreal snakes found throughout the eastern US. The Rough Greensnake is the only member of this genus found in Mississippi, and is entirely green with keeled scales. Body is long and slender to mimic vegetation for camouflage. Rough Greensnakes are diurnal hunters, and rest on tree limps at night. They may be seen crossing roads often during the summer months, and constitute a portion of road mortality. Rough Greensnakes hunt tree- and grass-dwelling invertebrates. They may perform a swaying motion to mimic vegetation in the breeze.

Rough green snakes range throughout the Southeastern United States, from Florida, north to coastal Maine, Indiana, and west to Central Texas. They are commonly found in the Piedmont and Atlantic coastal plain. These snakes also occur in northeastern Mexico, including the state of Tamaulipas and eastern Nuevo León. They inhabit moist meadows, overgrown pasture, tallgrass prairie, thickets, vines, shrubs, and woodlands, often near water.

Rough green snakes are highly arboreal, frequently found climbing in low vegetation, and are also good swimmers. However, they are often found on the ground as well. They lead a solitary life and unlike many snakes, they are largely diurnal. At night they sleep coiled on the tree branches, in shrubs, vine tangles, or thick vegetation. During the cold winter months, usually from December to February, Rough green snakes hibernate. They are docile creatures, often allowing a close approach by humans, and seldom bite. Even when bites occur, they have no venom and are harmless. When threatened, Rough green snakes prefer to freeze in hope not to be detected, relying on their green coloration for camouflage.