Conservation of large, wooded ecosystems such as the 70,000-acre Shawnee State Forest is essential to protecting sylvan creatures such as the rough green snake.

7. Green Mambas Green mambas are some of the most venomous snakes on earth, but their sleek, green bodies make them some of the most beautiful beasts.

In a darkened forest of Bolivia, a 4-foot-long creature with “large” eyes balanced on a tree branch. Its “emerald green” hue likely helped it blend in — but not well enough.

The two species of green anaconda look almost identical, and no obvious geographical barrier exists to separate them. But their level of genetic divergence — 5.5% — is staggering.

Two species found in North Carolina climb skillfully: rat snakes and rough green snakes. Why do snakes climb? Like any other animal, snakes need to eat.