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Coloration is dominantly green on the head, eyes and thorax, with a black outline around the labrum and facial sutures as well as black lateral stripes on thorax. Eyes do not meet dorsally on the head. The anterior thoracic strip is divided by a narrow green line seen in many other Ophiogomphus species. Legs are entirely black, except for trace green markings on the femora and tibia of females. The abdomen is primarily black with interrupted dorsal and lateral stripes that appear bright yellow and noticeably widen on enlarged segments 7, 8 and 9 and continue on to the caudal appendages of males. Length of the abdomen can vary up to 10mm between individuals. Unlike most other species, male boreal snaketails have small dark coloured horns on their head similar to females; however, females of this species have two pairs of horns, one in front and one behind the eye (Needham et. al. 2000).

In 2004, K. Gibbs et. al. studied several species of Ophiogomphus coexisting in Maine. Ophiogomphus colubrinus was not included in this study, but it can be assumed that it has a similar life history to its close relatives because of the discovery of synchronous emergence patterns of Ophiogomphus species. Sexually mature adults are completely terrestrial and are capable of flying great distances over land in search for food, but most of the adult life is spent near water where mate selection, reproduction and oviposition take place. Mating usually occurs during June, July and August. Females oviposit their eggs close to a shallow freshwater source. Aquatic naiads emerge from the eggs during the summer and molt 9 to 15 times as they develop into the final instar larvae. The final instars enter diapause to overwinter under the ice and emerge from the water two years later. Metamorphosis is complete when the larvae emerge from the water and then molt into winded adults.

Diet is likely very similar to other species of Ophiogomphus, consisting mainly of mosquitoes and other aquatic flying insects found near water.

Naiad diet includes aquatic larvae and other small animals it is able to grasp, like fish and tadpoles.