Color Photograph: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Green Rat Snake (Senticolis triaspis)

Identification: Snake 24 to 50 inches in length. A long, slender species with an overall green to olive-green coloration. Head elongate and with a rectangular snout. Belly white to slightly tinted with yellow. Scales weakly keeled and anal plate divided.

Geographical Variation: A single named population occurs in the United States, but other recognized populations occur in Mexico.

Range (see map at left): The distribution of this species barely reaches the United States in southeastern and south-central Arizona. The Green Fox Snake occurs primarily in Mexico.

Habitat: The Green Fox Snake is found in mountainous regions in southern Arizona. It is most commonly found along the shores of streams in rocky canyons.

Food: Small mammals, birds, and snakes.

Behavior: Little is known about the habits of this species. It spends most of the daylight hours in trees and shrubs, moving to the ground to hide in rock crevices during the night.

Reproduction:  Not recorded.

Green Rat Snake (Senticolis triaspis)

The Green Fox Snake is the only pure green snake species in southern Arizona and adjacent areas of northern Mexico. The elongate head with its rectangular snout are distinctive as well.