smooth greensnake

Adults can be from 12″ to 24″ in length, though they are usually no more than 20″ long. The scales are smooth, not keeled.

14″ to 20″

This is the only bright green snake found in Minnesota.

Grassy areas: meadows, prairies, savannas, and woodland edges

Unknown, but presumed 4 to 10 years

Mostly soft-bodies insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars, but also grubs, worms, and spiders.

Sources

4, 14, 24, 29, 30, 74, 78.

Widespread in Minnesota but in scattered populations

This species was formerly classified as Opheodrys vernalis and contained three subspecies. The genus Opheodrys contained only two species. A study of the genus by Oldham and Smith in 1991 found significant categorical differences between the two species that suggest divergent evolution. The author separated this species into its own genus, Liochlorophis. Crother in 2000 rejected the split. An analysis of the available evidence by Walley in 2003 supported the split. The same analysis rejected recognition of the three subspecies. Most print and online sources continue to refer to this species by its former classification, and consider Liochlorophis vernalis a synonym. The use of the genus Liochlorophis, though appropriate, has fallen out of usage.

Smooth Green Snake...

Here is another photo of the smooth green snake. It was just before I let the little snake go. I'm not into snakes really, but I really like these little ones.

Smooth Green Snake...

I seen the snake in the grasses and it seemed to freeze or just remain still. Probably thought I didn’t see it and that I would eventually move on. I filmed it while it was stationary though it did flick its tongue in and out at times and ever so often would slightly sway its head left and right. I was thinking it was possibly trying to mimic the grasses moving in the breeze. After a while I started wondering if I should try catch it or not?

Well, as you can see I decided to try and did catch it. It was a little larger than a red-bellied but still a fairly small snake. In the grasses it looked green just like the grass. Only second one I have ever seen while out and about in nature. A real pretty snake and quite harmless. Once it realized I wasn’t a predator or threat it seemed to just kind a look around. I didn’t film much of it in my hand as it was difficult lighting and couldn’t tell at times if it was in focus but did spend a bit longer filming it while it was down in the grasses.

Smooth Green Snake
Nick Scobel

Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis)
Mike Day

Opheodrys vernalis
Todd Pierson

"Smooth Green Snake" A quick look
Nov 2, 2023

Western Smooth Green Snake (Colubridae: Opheodrys vernalis blanchardi) Locomotion
Carl Barrentine

Smooth Green Snake head start
Daily Reptile News

Snakes of PA: Smooth green snake - timesleader.com
timesleadervideo

Eastern Smooth Green Snake
Flaxalf

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

I seen the snake in the grasses and it seemed to freeze or just remain still. Probably thought I didn’t see it and that I would eventually move on.

I filmed it while it was stationary though it did flick its tongue in and out at times and ever so often would slightly sway its head left and right. I was thinking it was possibly trying to mimic the grasses moving in the breeze. After a while I started wondering if I should try catch it or not? Well, as you can see I decided to try and did catch it. It was a little larger than a red-bellied but still a fairly small snake. In the grasses it looked green just like the grass. Only second one I have ever seen while out and about in nature. A real pretty snake and quite harmless. Once it realized I wasn’t a predator or threat it seemed to just kind a look around. I didn’t film much of it in my hand as it was difficult lighting and couldn’t tell at times if it was in focus but did spend a bit longer filming it while it was down in the grasses.

Here is another photo of the smooth green snake. It was just before I let the little snake go. I'm not into snakes really, but I really like these little ones.

Location: Lake Bronson State Park

We saw a smooth green snake in Lake Bronson State Park’s Two Rivers Campground on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. 

Sarah and Claire Fritsch
4/30/2021

Location: Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge drive

Location: Cass County

seen this little snake crossing the driveway

Location: Pope County