East Tennessee’s forests and meadows are home to two distinct species of green snakes, each with unique characteristics that make identification straightforward once you know what to look for.
The rough green snake and smooth green snake share similar coloration but differ significantly in habitat preferences, physical features, and behavior patterns.
Understanding these differences can enhance your wildlife observation experiences and help you appreciate the ecological roles these beneficial reptiles play in Tennessee’s diverse ecosystems.
Whether you’re hiking the Cumberland Mountains, exploring riparian areas along Tennessee’s waterways, or simply curious about the green snake you spotted in your backyard, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge to confidently distinguish between these two fascinating species.
Both snakes are completely harmless to humans and serve important ecological functions as insectivores, making them valuable allies in natural pest control.
1. Rough Green Snake
The rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) stands as one of East Tennessee’s most distinctive and easily recognizable reptile species, earning its common name from the keeled scales that give its skin a distinctly rough texture when touched.
This slender, arboreal species is among the 23 snake species found in eastern Tennessee and typically reaches 2½ feet in length, though some individuals may occasionally attain 3½ feet.
Physical Characteristics and Identification
The rough green snake displays brilliant leaf green coloration except immediately before shedding when it may appear duller, or after death when it turns bluish. The ventral surface presents as yellow, white, or pale green, creating a sharp contrast with the vivid dorsal coloration. The head appears only slightly wider than the neck, maintaining the species’ characteristically slender profile throughout its body length.
The defining feature that separates this species from its smooth green snake relative lies in the scale structure. Each dorsal scale contains a central ridge or keel, creating the rough texture that gives the species its name. When handling these docile snakes, you’ll notice they’re remarkably calm and seldom attempt to bite.
Habitat and Distribution in East Tennessee
The preferred habitat of rough green snakes includes moist meadows and woodlands, typically near water sources. These highly arboreal reptiles prefer dense brush in edge situations where forest meets open areas. In East Tennessee, you’ll find them thriving along stream banks, lake shores, and upland ravines where dense vegetation meets open water.
Rough green snakes are commonly found on forest edges near ponds or lakes. Although they are arboreal snakes, they forage in dense vegetation along pond and lake shorelines during the day. Their nights are spent coiled in the branches of trees, making them particularly visible during daylight hours when they hunt for insects among the foliage.
Important Note: The rough green snake ranges throughout the Southeastern United States, from Florida north to Southern New Jersey and Indiana, and west to Central Texas. While commonly found in the Piedmont and Atlantic coastal plain, they’re not found in the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains. This distribution pattern means rough green snakes are more commonly encountered in East Tennessee’s lower elevations and valley systems.
Behavior and Diet
This insectivorous species shows a particular preference for caterpillars as a favored food item. Their diet consists primarily of soft-bodied insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates, making them excellent natural pest controllers in garden and agricultural settings.
The species demonstrates remarkable camouflage abilities, remaining motionless among green vegetation when threatened. Their slow, deliberate movements and green coloration provide nearly perfect concealment among leaves and branches, often allowing observers to pass within inches without detection.
2. Smooth Green Snake
The smooth green snake (Opheodrys vernalis) represents a more northern species that reaches the edge of its range in parts of Tennessee, making encounters significantly less common than with the rough green snake. This medium-sized snake typically reaches adult lengths of 12-26 inches and is the only bright green snake species found in many northern regions.
Physical Characteristics and Identification
The smooth green snake’s most distinctive feature lies in its scale structure – unlike the rough green snake, its dorsal scales lack keels, creating a smooth texture when touched. The head is only slightly wider than the neck and displays green coloration on the upper surface with yellow or white on the lip, chin, and throat. The underside appears white, ivory, or pale yellow.
Snakes preparing to shed their skin may appear olive green but return to bright green after shedding. Hatchlings and small juveniles tend to display duller coloration with most appearing olive green, which can occasionally cause confusion with other snake species during identification.
Key Identification Difference: The primary distinguishing feature between rough and smooth green snakes lies in scale texture. Run your finger along the snake’s back – rough green snakes feel distinctly rough due to keeled scales, while smooth green snakes have a silky, smooth texture.
Distribution and Habitat Preferences
The smooth green snake occurs throughout the northeastern United States, from Missouri and the Dakotas in the west to the eastern seaboard from northern New Jersey in the south to Nova Scotia in the north. Their range also extends south along the Appalachian Mountains into West Virginia.
In Tennessee, smooth green snakes are primarily found in the state’s mountainous eastern regions, particularly in higher elevation areas where their preferred habitat conditions exist. These snakes can be found in many different habitats, including marshes, meadows, stream edges, and open woods. They prefer ground-level areas without dense shrubs.
This terrestrial preference creates a clear behavioral distinction from the arboreal rough green snake. While rough green snakes spend most of their time in trees and shrubs, smooth green snakes prefer ground-level habitats with grassy or herbaceous vegetation.
Behavior and Ecology
During hibernation, smooth green snakes seek burrows, ant hills, and other underground spaces, demonstrating their terrestrial lifestyle preferences. This behavior contrasts sharply with rough green snakes, which typically seek elevated overwintering sites.
The smooth green snake’s diet consists primarily of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates, similar to the rough green snake. However, their ground-dwelling behavior means they encounter different prey items, often focusing on ground-dwelling insects rather than the arboreal caterpillars preferred by rough green snakes.
Pro Tip: If you encounter a green snake in East Tennessee, observe its behavior and location. A green snake actively climbing in trees or shrubs is almost certainly a rough green snake, while one moving through ground-level vegetation is more likely to be a smooth green snake.
Conservation Status
Although smooth green snakes have a wide geographical range, many populations are patchy and some are declining. In Tennessee, smooth green snakes face habitat pressure from development and changes in land use patterns, particularly in their preferred mountainous habitats.
Quick Identification Summary
| Feature | Rough Green Snake | Smooth Green Snake |
|---|---|---|
| Scale Texture | Rough (keeled scales) | Smooth (no keels) |
| Primary Habitat | Trees and shrubs (arboreal) | Ground level (terrestrial) |
| Size | 2-3.5 feet | 12-26 inches |
| Distribution in TN | Common in valleys/lower elevations | Limited to mountain regions |
| Behavior | Climbs actively, sleeps in trees | Stays on ground, burrows for winter |
Conclusion
Both green snake species found in East Tennessee serve important ecological roles as natural pest controllers, consuming thousands of insects throughout their active seasons. The rough green snake, with its keeled scales and arboreal lifestyle, represents the more commonly encountered species throughout East Tennessee’s diverse habitats. The smooth green snake, distinguished by its smooth scales and terrestrial behavior, occupies a more limited range primarily in the state’s mountainous regions.
Understanding these identification features – scale texture, habitat preferences, and behavior patterns – enables confident species recognition while fostering appreciation for these beneficial reptiles. Both species remain completely harmless to humans and pets, making any encounter a positive opportunity for wildlife observation and environmental education.
