Rough Green Snakes

Rough green snakeRough green snake
Kenneth L. Krysko (left), Rick Owen (right) photos.

Scientific name: Opheodrys aestivus

The following key will separate the two subspecies of rough green snakes that are found in Florida. If you are unable to distinguish between the subspecies using the characteristics in the key below, you probably can do so using geographic location alone.

1a The scales are keeled, the scale in the third row of dorsal scales opposite the seventh belly scale is usually not keeled; northern peninsular and panhandle Florida. Rough Green Snake,
Opheodrys aestivus aestivus
1b The scales are strongly keeled, the scale in the third row of dorsal scales opposite the seventh belly scale is usually keeled; lower peninsular Florida. Florida Rough Green Snake,
Opheodrys aestivus carinatus


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