Green snakes in Texas are a common sight. You can find these beautiful creatures throughout the state, and they are a great addition to any wildlife collection.
They’re often seen basking on rocks or climbing trees in search of prey. These reptiles are relatively harmless to humans, but their bites can be painful. If you see a green snake in Texas, it’s best to leave it alone.
Green Snakes in Texas
Just a few types of green or partially snakes in Texas include:
1. Rough Green Snake
Scientific name: Opheodrys aestivus
The rough green snake is a slender, bright green snake found in wooded areas throughout the eastern part of the United States. In Texas, they are most commonly seen in the eastern and central parts of the state. These snakes are non-venomous, and their bites are not dangerous to humans.
Rough green snakes only grow to be around 22 to 32 inches in length. However, they are excellent climbers and are often seen coiled up in trees or shrubs. They sometimes go down to the ground to bask in the sun or look for food. Their diet consists mainly of insects such as crickets and spiders, but they will also eat lizards and small mammals.
These snakes are active during the day and are typically shy around humans. If you see a rough green snake, it’s best to leave it alone and enjoy the sighting from a distance.
2. Smooth Green Snakes
Scientific name: Opheodrys vernalis
The smooth green snake is a small, slender, non-venomous snake found in the eastern United States and Canada. This snake is typically between 18 and 24 inches long, with a lean body and smooth, greenish-brown scales.
In terms of appearance, smooth green snakes are typically bright green, with a white or yellow underside. They get their name from their soft, glossy scales, with the males growing larger than females and more brightly colored.
The smooth green snake is relatively common in Texas, where it can be found in various habitats, including fields, gardens, woods, and marshes. It feeds primarily on insects, such as grasshoppers and crickets.
The smooth green snake is non-aggressive and gentle by nature and is not considered a threat to humans. While they’re known to be relatively docile creatures, they may coil their bodies and strike at their aggressor if they are threatened.
3. Green Corn Snake
Scientific name: Pantherophis guttatus
The corn snake is a popular pet due to its docile nature and wide array of color morphs. Corn snakes are native to the southeastern United States, where they can be found in a variety of habitats, including Meadowlands,tropical hammocks, abandoned buildings, rocky hillsides, andwooded groves. They typically grow to be 8-12 inches in length and live for an average of 10-12 years.
Corn snakes are non-venomous constrictors that kill their prey by first biting to get a grip on their target, then firmly wrapping their bodies around them and suffocating them.
These snakes are relatively easy to care for and make great pets for first-time snake owners. Corn snakes are opportunistic feeders and strictly carnivorous. They eat a wide variety of prey, including mice, rats, birds, and lizards.
In the wild, corn snakes play an important role in controlling rodent populations. Due to habitat loss and overcollection for the pet trade, corn snakes have now been considered a conservation-dependent species.
If you’re interested in owning a corn snake, do your research to ensure this is the right pet for you.
4. Texas-Lined Snake
Scientific name: Tropidoclonion lineatum texanum
Texas lined snake or texanum is a subspecies of non-venomous snake that’s endemic to the U.S. state of Texas. It’s a member of the colubrid family and is closely related to the green snake. The Texas-lined snake is characterized by its olive-green body with black stripes running along its length. Adults can grow to be up to 12 inches in length.
Texas-lined snakes eat various small animals, including earthworms and other tiny invertebrates. When captured, these snakes produce a foul-smelling musk from their cloaca. This musk is used to deter predators and can be quite foul-smelling to humans.
The Texas-lined snake is a common sight in green areas across Texas. They are often found in greenbelts, parks, and other natural areas. If you’re lucky enough to spot a Texas-lined snake in the wild, give it plenty of space. These snakes are not aggressive and pose no threat to humans. However, they will defend themselves if they’re threatened.
5. Green Water Snake
Scientific name: Nerodia cyclopion
Green Water Snakes are a type of water snake that lives in bayous, swamps, marshes, and any other form of permanent bodies of water. They prefer to be near water with little current and lots of vegetation. Their diet mainly consists of fish, frogs, and crayfish.
These kinds of snakes can specifically be found in East Texas. Outside of Texas they are common in Louisiana, as well as Coastal South Carolina to Florida, Eastern Arkansas, and Southern Illinois.
