British Reptiles. By Sue Searle

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1 British Reptiles By Sue Searle

2 What is a reptile? Back-bone present Cold-blooded. Inactive in winter Scaly skin which is shed No water required for mating or young Most lay eggs but some are viviparous

3 Life cycle Breed at 2-4 years old Eggs hatch late summer Mate in Spring once temperature is 13-15ºC Grass Snake Sand Lizard Lay eggs in June Slow-worm Common Lizard Adder Smooth Snake Gestation lasts 4-5 months Live young born in late summer or early autumn Gestation lasts at least a year

4 Anatomy - Snakes Dfd

5 Skeleton

6 Habitats

7 Domestic habitats

8 Snakes No legs but slither on numerous ribs Jaws can be dislocated 3 4 species in the UK: adder, smooth snake, grass snake, and barred grass snake August 2017 new species! Barred Grass Snake

9 Grass Snake Natrix natrix 120cm long Young hatch from eggs Eats frogs, lizards & small mammals Grassy places Common, swims & climbs trees Offence to kill, injure or sell

10 Grass Snake Natrix natrix ID Yellow and black collar Keeled scales

11 Barred Grass Snake Natrix helvetica Previously thought to be a subspecies, has now been found to be a separate species. Grey, not olive green like the N. natrix and does not have the same bright yellow collar.? Distribution assumed the same as N. natrix but more study needed. NEW! August 2017

12 Adder (Viper) Vipera berus 65cm long Viviparous Eats lizards & small mammals Many habitats Venomous Widespread but localised Offence to kill, injure or sell

13 Adder (Viper) Vipera berus

14 Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca 60cm long Viviparous Eats lizards Sandy heathland Heathlands in Dorset & Hampshire 1-2 heaths in Surrey & West Sussex Very local and very rare Fully protected

15 Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca

16 Lizards Most have four limbs and a tail The tail may be regrown if damaged 3 species in the UK: Slow worm, common lizard and sand lizard

17 Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara 13.5cm (tail = 7cm) Viviparous Eats invertebrates Grassland & heathland Widespread Offence to kill, injure or sell

18 Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara

19 Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis 18cm (tail = 9cm) Young hatch from eggs Eats invertebrates Sand dunes & heathland Occurs naturally in Surrey, Dorset & Hampshire on sandy heathland Found in Merseyside on coastal sand dune systems Has been re-introduced to sites in N. Wales, Devon, Cornwall & West Sussex Very local, endangered Fully protected

20 Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis

21 Slow-worm Anguis fragilis 50cm long Viviparous Eats slugs & other small animals Woodland, meadows & heathland Widespread Offence to kill, injure or sell

22 Slow-worm Anguis fragilis ID Variable colours Very smooth Tiny scales Can blink Mature males can have blue spots Newborn juveniles

23 Slow-worm Anguis fragilis

24 Reptiles and the Law Only the sand lizard and smooth snake are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (Section 9) and Regulation 9 of the EU Habitats Regulations 2017 against killing, injuring, capture, damaging or destroying a breeding or resting site, intentionally obstructing access to a place used for shelter, keeping, transporting or selling. This means that not only are the animals themselves protected but so are their habitats. These species do not occur in Devon except in nature reserves. Common lizard, slow worm, adder and grass snake are all protected under Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 against injuring, killing or selling.

25 Survey Techniques and Mitigation Bitumen tiles Corrugated iron tins Fences Receptor site Destructive search

26 Tiles and Tins

27 Reptile fences

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29 Destructive search

30 Reptile sites Looking at habitat and potential for reptiles

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42 Enjoy!