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Smooth Greensnake - Opheodrys vernalis

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Species of Concern
Native Species

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S2
(see State Rank Reason below)


Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM: SENSITIVE
FWP SWAP: SGCN2, SGIN

External Links

State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
The Smooth Green Snake is rarely observed and is only found within or near wetland habitat in far northeastern Montana. Conversion of grassland habitat to cropland threatens the species persistence within the state. Like many other reptiles we do not have data to assess changes in population, occupancy, or distribution over time.
Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis) Conservation Status Summary
State Rank: S2
Review Date = 01/29/2025
How we calculate Conservation Status

See the complete Conservation Status Report
 
General Description
EGGS:
Females are oviparous, laying one or two clutches of eggs (Smith 1963). Clutch sizes vary from 3 to 12 eggs, averaging approximately 7 (Hammerson 1999, Ernst and Ernst 2003). Eggs are white and oval with thin shells and blunt ends; approximately 25 cm (1 in.) (Werner et al. 2004).

HATCHLINGS:
Recently hatched neonates may have gray, olive, or brown backs. They range in size from 8.3- 6.7 cm (3.3-6.6 in.) and a mean of 13.3 cm (5.2 in.) total length (TL) (Wright and Wright 1957, Smith 1963, Conant and Collins 1991, Powell et al. 1998, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003, Werner et al. 2004).

JUVENILES AND ADULTS:
This species is small, thin, bright green snake with no pattern, smooth (unkeeled) dorsal scales and a uniform white to cream ventral surface, sometimes becoming yellowish toward the tail. The anal plate is divided, and there is a single anterior temporal scale. There are usually eight (occasionally seven) lower labials and usually seven (occasionally six) yellowish upper labials. Each nostril is centered within a single scale. There are 15 midbody dorsal scale rows, 106-154 ventrals, and 59-102 subcaudals. Individuals rarely exceed 50 cm (20 in.) TL, but females are generally larger and have been known to reach 80 cm (32 in.) TL. Females can become sexually mature as short as 28 cm (11 in.) TL, while males may mature at 30 cm (11.8 in) TL. Dead or preserved specimens turn bluish (St. John 2002).

Diagnostic Characteristics
Eastern Racers (Coluber constrictor) also have unkeeled scales and are a generally a uniform green in Montana, but they are always much larger as adults. Hatchling and juvenile Eastern Racers, which may be similar in size to Smooth Greensnakes, but have a distinct banded or blotched pattern before they mature. Unlike Opheodrys vernalis, the Eastern Racer has two anterior temporal scales, and each nostril is centered between two scales. Additionally, C. constrictor has an elongated preocular scale that enters the upper labial row (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003, Werner et al. 2004).

Species Range
Montana Range Range Descriptions

Native

Western Hemisphere Range

 


Range Comments
The Smooth Greensnake has a mostly continuous range throughout the northeastern United States from Nova Scotia south to northern Virginia and northwesterly to the upper Midwest, where its range becomes widely scattered further west and south. Isolated populations exist as far west as Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, and as far south as Texas and part of Mexico (Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003). In Montana, Smooth Greensnakes have been observed from only three northeastern counties: Sheridan, Daniels, and Roosevelt Counties and includes 57 observations (Black and Bragg 1968, Hendricks 1999a, Maxell et al. 2003, MTNHP 2024). These observations are located on the periphery of their range, crossing the Saskatchewan and North Dakota borders into Montana’s Glaciated Dark Brown Prairie and Coteau Lakes Upland Ecoregions (Woods et al. 2002). Three subspecies have been proposed (including O. v. blanchardi in Montana) based primarily on clinal variation in numbers of ventral and caudal scales (Grobman 1941, Smith 1963, Grobman 1992a, Grobman 1992b). However, these subspecies are currently unrecognized by most herpetologists due to overlap in morphology and a lack of molecular evidence (Collins 1992). Additionally, some herpetologists have designated a new genus, Liochlorophis, for the Smooth Greensnake based on morphological and physiological differences between it and the Rough Greensnake (O. aestivus) (Oldham and Smith 1991, Hammerson 1999).

Maximum Elevation: 853 m (2,797 ft) in Daniels County, H. Bower (MTNHP 2024).

Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 62

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

 

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)



Migration
No information specific to Montana is known, but based upon habits in other areas of the species' range, the Smooth Greensnake may migrate between winter hibernaculum and summer range in some areas (Vogt 1981).

Habitat
Smooth Greensnakes prefer mesic habitat such as wet prairies, meadows, marshes, open forests, and riparian corridors with lush shrubby and herbaceous cover. They are secretive, and often found under cover objects such as logs, bark, boards, and rocks (Smith 1963, Hammerson 1999, Ernst and Ernst 2003). Periods of inactivity are spent underground, beneath woody debris and rocks, or in rotting wood. They have been found hibernating in abandoned ant mounds. Most activity is restricted to the ground, but they may climb into low vegetation, and sometimes enter water (Hammerson 1999). This species may also be found in damp meadows bordering streams and lakes as well as drier, rocky areas, but usually only if grass or similar vegetation is present. Little information is available for the species in Montana, though it has been reported from residential lawns, city parks, along ditches in prairie pothole country, and around wetland complexes. Home range, population, and migratory data is absent in Montana and lacking elsewhere. In the Midwest, Smooth Greensnakes are thought to be locally common at some locations but appear to be becoming rare or extirpated in others (Harding 1997).

Ecological Systems Associated with this Species
  • Details on Creation and Suggested Uses and Limitations
    How Associations Were Made
    We associated the use and habitat quality (common or occasional) of each of the 82 ecological systems mapped in Montana for vertebrate animal species that regularly breed, overwinter, or migrate through the state by:
    1. Using personal observations and reviewing literature that summarize the breeding, overwintering, or migratory habitat requirements of each species (Dobkin 1992, Hart et al. 1998, Hutto and Young 1999, Maxell 2000, Foresman 2012, Adams 2003, and Werner et al. 2004);
    2. Evaluating structural characteristics and distribution of each ecological system relative to the species' range and habitat requirements;
    3. Examining the observation records for each species in the state-wide point observation database associated with each ecological system;
    4. Calculating the percentage of observations associated with each ecological system relative to the percent of Montana covered by each ecological system to get a measure of "observations versus availability of habitat".
    Species that breed in Montana were only evaluated for breeding habitat use, species that only overwinter in Montana were only evaluated for overwintering habitat use, and species that only migrate through Montana were only evaluated for migratory habitat use.  In general, species were listed as associated with an ecological system if structural characteristics of used habitat documented in the literature were present in the ecological system or large numbers of point observations were associated with the ecological system.  However, species were not listed as associated with an ecological system if there was no support in the literature for use of structural characteristics in an ecological system, even if point observations were associated with that system.  Common versus occasional association with an ecological system was assigned based on the degree to which the structural characteristics of an ecological system matched the preferred structural habitat characteristics for each species as represented in scientific literature.  The percentage of observations associated with each ecological system relative to the percent of Montana covered by each ecological system was also used to guide assignment of common versus occasional association.  If you have any questions or comments on species associations with ecological systems, please contact the Montana Natural Heritage Program's Senior Zoologist.

    Suggested Uses and Limitations
    Species associations with ecological systems should be used to generate potential lists of species that may occupy broader landscapes for the purposes of landscape-level planning.  These potential lists of species should not be used in place of documented occurrences of species (this information can be requested at: mtnhp.mt.gov/requests) or systematic surveys for species and evaluations of habitat at a local site level by trained biologists.  Users of this information should be aware that the land cover data used to generate species associations is based on imagery from the late 1990s and early 2000s and was only intended to be used at broader landscape scales.  Land cover mapping accuracy is particularly problematic when the systems occur as small patches or where the land cover types have been altered over the past decade.  Thus, particular caution should be used when using the associations in assessments of smaller areas (e.g., evaluations of public land survey sections).  Finally, although a species may be associated with a particular ecological system within its known geographic range, portions of that ecological system may occur outside of the species' known geographic range.

    Literature Cited
    • Adams, R.A.  2003.  Bats of the Rocky Mountain West; natural history, ecology, and conservation.  Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado.  289 p.
    • Dobkin, D. S.  1992.  Neotropical migrant land birds in the Northern Rockies and Great Plains. USDA Forest Service, Northern Region. Publication No. R1-93-34.  Missoula, MT.
    • Foresman, K.R.  2012.  Mammals of Montana.  Second edition.  Mountain Press Publishing, Missoula, Montana.  429 pp.
    • Hart, M.M., W.A. Williams, P.C. Thornton, K.P. McLaughlin, C.M. Tobalske, B.A. Maxell, D.P. Hendricks, C.R. Peterson, and R.L. Redmond. 1998.  Montana atlas of terrestrial vertebrates.  Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, MT.  1302 p.
    • Hutto, R.L. and J.S. Young.  1999.  Habitat relationships of landbirds in the Northern Region, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-GTR-32.  72 p.
    • Maxell, B.A.  2000.  Management of Montana's amphibians: a review of factors that may present a risk to population viability and accounts on the identification, distribution, taxonomy, habitat use, natural history, and the status and conservation of individual species.  Report to U.S. Forest Service Region 1.  Missoula, MT: Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana.  161 p.
    • Werner, J.K., B.A. Maxell, P. Hendricks, and D. Flath.  2004.  Amphibians and reptiles of Montana.  Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company. 262 p.

Food Habits
Smooth Greensnakes primarily prey on invertebrates, particularly small insects. Documented prey includes ants, maggots, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, grubs, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, slugs, snails, salamanders, and small crayfish (Wright and Wright 1957, Hammerson 1999, Ernst and Ernst 2003). Nothing is known regarding food habits in Montana.

Ecology
Smooth Greensnakes are primarily diurnal, with most activity occurring at warmer times of the day, although they have been observed in the evening on warm asphalt (Hammerson 1999). In Illinois, Seibert and Hagen (1947) found they were most active at air temperatures between 21-30 °C (69.8-86 F). Smooth Greensnakes are primarily ground dwellers but have been known to climb into low shrubs to bask or forage (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Ernst and Ernst 2003). Multiple individuals are often found together under objects, suggesting they are somewhat communal.

Overwintering usually takes place in September at northern latitudes. They have been observed conducting prehibernation movements as early as late August between 1,524 and 1,829 m (5,000 and 6,000 ft) in the Black Hills, South Dakota (Smith 1963) and during September in Colorado (Hammerson 1999), and probably in Montana as well (Maxell et al. 2003), although little is known about its ecology in Montana. Overwintering occurs underground, and has been observed in ant mounds, mammal burrows, gravel banks, and spaces between granite slabs. O. vernalis may hibernate communally with other species, including (Thamnophis radix) and (T. sirtalis) (Criddle 1937, Lachner 1942, Degenhardt et al. 1996, Ernst and Ernst 2003).

Their cryptic green coloration helps them avoid detection from predators. If cornered or seized, their last modes of defense are the release foul smelling cloacal secretions, and sometimes they will gape their mouths and pretend to strike, although they never bite (Cochran 1987b, Hammerson 1999). The first voucher specimen in the state was probably killed by hail. Documented predators include gartersnakes (Thamnophis spp.), chickens, hawks (Buteo spp.), and cats. Reported predators in Montana include Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) and Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum).

Reproductive Characteristics
Smooth Greensnakes emerge from hibernacula in late spring to early summer. Data on post-emergence behavior and courtship is absent in Montana and poorly documented elsewhere. However, mating is known to occur shortly after emergence in May but has been observed as early as April 15th in Pennsylvania (Ernst and Ernst 2003), and as late as August in southern Ontario, Canada. Females inseminated in late summer or fall probably store their sperm overwinter before fertilization occurs in the spring, as with other colubrid snakes (Dymond and Fry 1932, Hammerson 1999, Werner et al. 2004). Data collected by Smith et al. (1991) in Colorado suggest that females do not reproduce every year and that sexual maturity is not reached until the third calendar year or when females reach 22-26 cm (8.7-10.2 in.) snout-vent length (Hammerson 1999). Females are oviparous, laying one or two clutches of eggs under stones, boards, logs, and inside rotting wood (Smith 1963). Northern populations typically oviposit from late July through August, although no data exists for Montana. Eggs are typically incubated for 3-4 weeks before hatching, but Michigan females have oviposited very late in embryogenesis, just four days prior to hatching. In Michigan and Ontario, clutch sizes varied from 3 to 18 eggs, averaging approximately 7 (Hammerson 1999, Ernst and Ernst 2003). Females will occasionally nest communally at high quality nest sites (Fitch 1970, Hammerson 1999). Egg-groups numbering 27 and 31, each from three different females have been found in choice nest-sites in rotting logs (Cook 1964, Fowler 1966). In Manitoba, Gregory (1975a) located three gravid females near, each with five eggs, in a good nest site underneath a wooden platform. Grobman (1989) found that larger females deposit more eggs than smaller females, and that in eastern populations clutch size decreases with an increase in latitude. This suggests that Montana females probably produce fewer eggs on average than populations studied at lower latitudes.

Management
The following was taken from the Status and Conservation section for the Smooth Greensnake account in Maxell et al. 2009.

In Montana, Smooth Greensnakes have a very restricted range, occupying a portion of just the three northeastern counties. There have only been 43 recorded observations, but 35 of those have come in the last 10 years. This lack of records may reflect a low abundance at the periphery of their range, or simply a lack of reported sightings and formal surveys in the region, which is sparsely populated and dominated by private lands. (1) Smooth Greensnakes consume large numbers of insects and are therefore probably most successful where they are plentiful. In Montana, they are found in a very small region primarily used for grazing and crop production. Therefore, heavy use of insecticides is a concern since it may affect this species both by direct poisoning and indirectly through prey reduction. In Indiana, Minton (1972) reported that two Smooth Greensnakes died from direct poisoning after insecticide application (Ernst and Ernst 2003). (2) Over-grazing, especially along riparian corridors, can trample and alter vegetation and soil structure, which are important components of O. vernalis habitat, and therefore could affect local populations. Grazing is known to reduce the abundance of many invertebrates (Hutchinson and King 1980), which could directly affect prey availability for O. vernalis. (3) Although effects of road mortality have not been directly studied in O. vernalis, studies on other snakes indicate roads often have negative impacts on population size and distribution. High road density has been positively correlated to low population size, which leads to populations being restricted to pockets with low road density. This may lead to isolation or restricted interaction between populations (Rudolph et al. 1998, Jochimsen et al. 2004). This is of particular concern in Montana, where Smooth Greensnakes appear to be rare, and are found within a very restricted area.


References
  • Literature Cited AboveLegend:   View Online Publication
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    • Rundquist, E.M. 1979. The status of Bufo debilis and Opheodrys vernalis in Kansas. Transaction of the Kansas Academy of Science 82(1): 67-70.
    • Schlauch, F.C. 1975. Agonistic behavior in a suburban Long Island population of the smooth green snake, Opheodrys vernalis. Engelhardtia 6(2): 25-26.
    • Schmidt, K.P. and W.L. Necker. 1936. The scientific name of the American smooth green snake. Herpetologica 1: 63-64.
    • Smith, H.M. and D. Thompson. 1993. Four reptiles newly recorded from Ouray County, Colorado. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 28(4): 78-79.
    • Stebbins, R.C. 1985. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 336 pp.
    • Stille, W.T. 1954. Observations on the reproduction and distribution of the green snake, Opheodrys vernalis (Harlan) Chicago Academy of Science Natural History Miscellaneous 127: 1-11.
    • Stuart, J.N. 2002. Liochlorophis (Opheodrys) vernalis (Smooth Green Snake). Reproduction. Herpetological Review 33(2):140-141.
    • Stuart, J.N. and C.W. Painter. 1993. Notes on hibernation of the smooth green snake Opheodrys vernalis, in New Mexico. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 29(3): 140-142.
    • Stuart, J.N. and W.G. Degenhardt. 1990. Opheodrys vernalis blanchardi (western smooth green snake). Herpetological Review 21(1): 23.
    • Walley, H.D. 2003. Liochlorophis, L. vernalis. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 776: 1-13.
    • Waters, R.M. 1993. Seasonal prey preference by the smooth green snake. M.S. Thesis, Central Michigan University; 54p. 1993.
    • Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1966. The amphibians and reptiles of North Dakota. University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND. 104 pp.
    • Worthington, R.D. 1973. Remarks on the distribution of the smooth green snake, Opheodrys vernalis Blanchardi grobman in Texas. Southwest Natuealist 18(3): 344-346.
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Citation for data on this website:
Smooth Greensnake — Opheodrys vernalis.  Montana Field Guide.  .  Retrieved on , from