Great Britain is home to at least six native reptile species. It is also home to a few non-native species, with many of them being protected. If you’re a reptile lover, then you’ll have a blast discovering some of the beautiful and unusual species of reptiles we have in the country. And they can vary greatly depending on where you are. Let’s take a look at some of the most common reptiles found in Britain and where you can see them.
Snakes
There are a total of three snake species that are native to the British Isles: the Adder, the Grass snake, and the Smooth Snake.
The grass snake is one of the biggest snakes in Europe and the biggest one in the British Isles. They are non-venomous and have a timid temperament. Grass snakes are easily identifiable by the black bars on both sides and the distinctive black and yellow collar they have around their neck. They are most commonly found in the lowlands, especially in areas like Rutland and Leicestershire.
The Smooth snake is slightly less common than the grass snake and is only found naturally in heartlands around Hampshire and Dorset. It can also be found in a few sites around Surrey. It is recognisable by its dull grey colour and rows of dots on the back. They will also often have a crown-like heart-shaped mark on the top of their head.
The Adder is part of the viper family and is the most northerly viper species on the planet. You can find adders all around Britain, but principally on the south coast and the far north of Scotland. It is also Britain’s only venomous snake species.
The adder prefers to dwell near coastal areas, moors, and heaths but can be found virtually anywhere. It’s also very important to note that the adder population is rapidly declining in various areas of the country, especially in the centre of England, and, if you were thinking of building property in the area, it would be smart to have the land surveyed for reptiles before you do.
This will not only make sure that you do not kill adders but also that you protect some of the lesser known and harder to detect reptiles in the area. Also, know that you could be subject to heavy fines and even months in prison if you destroy the habitat of one of these species or kill them during the construction process.
If you want to learn more about the reptile survey process, you should check out Arbtech. They can perform reptile surveys and surveys for protected species fast and affordably. You’ll find all the information you need on reptile surveys from costs to the whole process and different phases on their website.
Lizards
Britain is also home to three native lizard species: the common lizard, the slow worm, and sand lizards.
The common lizard can be found all over Britain but is most commonly found on commons, moors, and heathlands. You can recognise them by their stripes and spots on their back and their black and brown colour. They can greatly vary in colour, however, and you can spot common lizards ranging from jet black to green in colour.
The sand lizard is the rarest type of lizard in the country and can only be found around protected areas in Hampshire, Dorset, and Surrey. You’ll also find them along the protected dune systems in Merseyside.
There have been many reintroduction efforts made to increase the population of sand lizards. Populations have been re-established in the aforementioned areas, but also along their historical range in west Sussex, Cornwall, Sussex, and the West and North of Wales.
Slow worms are often mischaracterised as snakes, but they are indeed lizards. What separates them from snakes is their flat forked tongue, eyelids, and ability to drop their tail to escape predators. You’ll find slow worms all over the British Isles but they’re largely absent from territories outside of Britain.
Slow worms can be easily identifiable by their shiny appearance. The females are brown with black sides while males are greyish brown. Some female slow worms will also have a long line on their back. The younger slow worms have silver and black dorsal sides and black bellies. They also will often have a line going through the length of their body.
Non-Native Species
Then, you have a few alien reptile species like the Aesculapian snake, the wall lizard, and the green lizard.
Aesculapian snakes are found mainly in Regents Park, North Wales, and Colwyn Bay. You can recognise them by their uniformly olive, grey, or brown colour and lightly stippled scales.
Wall lizards can be found all over Southern England and are considered a non-native species as they came into the region either by escaping their natural habitat or through introduction.
Wall lizards are often mistaken for common lizards because of their similar markings. The main difference between them and wall lizards is that wall lizards tend to be a bit larger and more colourful.
Green lizards are the largest lizard species you’ll ever encounter in the British Isles and can be found mainly in the South of England. Various efforts have been made to introduce the species in the region, many of them illegal. Green lizard males are mostly green with stippling on their bodies. They will also have dark heads with a few spots. Mature males will also have blue checks and throats.
Female green lizards can vary greatly in colour but are mostly brown or green. They will sometimes have dark blotches over their body and two or four white lines on the sides. These are some of the most common reptiles you’ll find in and around Britain. Whether you’re an enthusiast, curious, or someone undertaking a sort of project that could affect their populations, knowing about these species could help in the future, so take the time to learn more about these species and how to protect them.