Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis) is a more northern species, distributed in Maryland only in the more western counties, from the Blue Ridge, through the Valley-and-Ridge into the Appalachians. This snake may be distinguished from the other, more widespread green snake species in Maryland, the more arboreal Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) by noting that the dorsal scales of Smooth lack middorsal keels (Rough Green has keeled scales). Smooth Green Snake has been declining rather severely in some portions of its range, and it has become rather localized and fragmented in many areas. This snake generally selects more open habitats with grassy or gramminoid vegetation, such as pastures or meadows, hillsides, and wetlands or marshes. The bright green coloration serves as good camouflage within these habitats (Maryland DNR site; Tennant, 2003).
There are 33 records in the project database.
GA | AL | WA | FR | CL | MO | HO | BA | BC | HA | CE | PG | AA | CV | CH | SM | KE | QA | CN | TA | DO | WI | SO | WO |