Rough green snakes are fairly long – to 32 in (81 cm) – slender, bright green snakes with yellow or whitish bellies that spend much of their time climbing in vegetation. Their bright green colour easily distinguishes them from all other snakes in Georgia and South Carolina but the similar smooth green snake replaces this species in the Appalachian Mountains and the Northeast. Rough green snakes have keeled scales and large eyes. After death the colour of green snakes fades to blue or black and dead individuals may resemble small black racers. Young green snakes resemble adults.