Description: O. aeneus is an extremely slender snake that reaches up to 6.2 feet in total length (including a long tail). Its color may vary from gray to brown with a yellow underside. Mexican vine snakes disappear in their natural habitat; their cryptic morphology provides them with highly effective camouflage. The body is laterally compressed. The snout is prominent, its length more than two times the diameter of the eye. There is 1 preocular, and there are 2 postoculars. There is 1 anterior temporal, and there are 2 posterior temporals. There is no loreal scale, and there are 8 to 10 upper labials. The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 17 rows at midbody. The anal plate is divided in Arizona specimens, but is entire in South American specimens.

Habitat: It is usually encountered in trees or shrubs on open, steep, and grassy slopes, but is also associated with wooded canyons, especially those with abundant vegetation.

Range: Within Arizona, O. aeneus is exclusively affiliated with Madrean Evergreen Woodland communities and the upper reaches of adjacent semidesert grassland habitat.

Found in these States: AZ

Diet: feeds mainly on lizards (mostly anoles), but also eats frogs, small rodents and birds.

Reproduction: is oviparous. Clutch sizes of 3 to 6 have been published. In Arizona, hatching occurs in September.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, occurrence in several protected areas, presumed large population, and because it is not currently in decline.

Taxonomy: