Discover the Largest Rough Green Snake Ever Recorded

There are two green snake species in the genus of Opheodrys; the North American green snake, the rough green, and the smooth green snake. Rough green snakes have a rough texture to their scales and are larger than smooth green snakes. But just how large do they get? Hang on as we reveal the largest rough green snake ever recorded.

What is a rough green snake?

Rough green snakes are bright green, and they look like a whip! They are long and are about as skinny as a pencil. Their scales are rough, with the ridges visible compared to the smooth green snake, which has very smooth scales. The tail of the rough green snake gradually gets thinner, with the tip coming to a point. Their average length is 14-33 inches (35-82 cm).

The rough green snake prefers to live on tree tops since their green bodies allow them to blend in nicely with the leaves. One interesting fact is that if green snakes are approached, they may freeze or raise the front of their bodies and sway back and forth to make it look like they are a tree branch blowing in the wind!

Where do rough green snakes live?

Rough green snakes can be found in the southern half of the United States due to their high preference for warm climates. They live in hardwood forests, dune meadows, and along the coasts. It is common to find them in trees near a water sources like marshlands, wetlands, and ponds.

What is the record for the largest rough green?

According to the University of Florida, Florida Museum, the largest rough green snake ever recorded was 46 inches (116cm) long! Can you imagine a green snake reaching more than 3 ½ feet?

Rough green snakes and smooth green snakes; similar?

Smooth green snakes look very similar, but their scales are smoother. They are also smaller, with an average smooth green snake reaching up to 15-20 inches.

What is the largest smooth green snake ever recorded?

The largest smooth green snake was 26 inches (66cm) long. So that would make it 20 inches shorter than the largest rough green snake.

What is the largest snake in the world?

The largest snake in the world is the green anaconda. The green anaconda can grow up to 28 feet and weigh more than 550 pounds. Reticulated pythons are the longest snake in the world and can reach lengths of 30 feet or more. Both snakes are heavy-bodied, especially when compared to the skinny rough green snake. Green Anacondas, for example, can have a diameter of up to 12 inches.

How large are green snakes in other parts of the world?

Australia

The green snakes in Australia are often called tree snakes and have a very similar appearance to the rough green snake. They are long, skinny, and green with big, round yellow eyes. Tree snakes are larger than rough greens and can reach 64 inches (1.64m) when mature. They are found in Australia’s northern and eastern areas, especially along the coast. You may even find one in your backyard or garden, as they are common in urban and suburban communities.

Africa

The spotted bush snake is Africa’s most common green snake, although there are 24 different green snake species. The spotted bush snake is a green snake with black spots, which also lives in trees. A large percentage of spotted bush snakes live in sub-Saharan Africa, and this is due to their skin’s unique ability to manage the heat in the environment. The largest spotted bush snake is 51 inches (1.3m), so 5 inches longer than the largest rough green snake. An average spotted bush snake is closer to 24-31 inches (60-80cm).

Asia

In southeast Asia, China and India, green snakes are called vine snakes or Asian whip snakes. The longest snakes have been reported to reach lengths of up to 6 feet (1.8m)! If you get close enough to one, you will see their oval eyes with a uniquely shaped (keyhole) pupil. Vine snakes live in rainforests and are also arboreal snakes.

South America

South America’s flatbread snake (green vine snake) is just a tad larger than the vine snakes in Asia, with the largest reaching 6 ½ feet (2m). They look very similar to the rough green snake until you see their head. Flatbread snakes have a long pointed snout, almost forming a triangle. While rough green snakes are not venomous, flatbread snakes are venomous but not harmful to humans.

Europe

Even longer than the vine snakes are the European aesculapian snakes. They are not bright green but more of an olive, but they are larger than all the other green snake species. They average 43-63 inches (110-160cm), with the largest Aesculapian ever recorded being 89 inches (225cm) which is 7.4 feet long.

Antarctica

Did you know there are no snakes in Antarctica? The ground stays frozen year-round in Antarctica, so there is no place for snakes to hibernate or brumate (a kind of hibernation). To put it plainly, it’s too cold for snakes.

What is the smallest rough green snake?

The smallest rough green snakes are baby snakes. When rough green snakes hatch, they are only 7-8 inches long. In comparison, pencils are 7 ½ inches long. The female typically lays around 2-14 eggs, with the eggs hatching in July or August. The females do not take care of their young, which is common for snakes. The babies are born with all the skills they need to survive independently and possibly become the next largest rough green snake ever recorded!

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