British Reptiles By Sue Searle
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
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
Anatomy - Snakes Dfd
Skeleton
Habitats
Domestic habitats
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
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
Grass Snake Natrix natrix ID Yellow and black collar Keeled scales
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
Adder (Viper) Vipera berus 65cm long Viviparous Eats lizards & small mammals Many habitats Venomous Widespread but localised Offence to kill, injure or sell
Adder (Viper) Vipera berus
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
Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca
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
Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara 13.5cm (tail = 7cm) Viviparous Eats invertebrates Grassland & heathland Widespread Offence to kill, injure or sell
Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara
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
Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis
Slow-worm Anguis fragilis 50cm long Viviparous Eats slugs & other small animals Woodland, meadows & heathland Widespread Offence to kill, injure or sell
Slow-worm Anguis fragilis ID Variable colours Very smooth Tiny scales Can blink Mature males can have blue spots Newborn juveniles
Slow-worm Anguis fragilis
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.
Survey Techniques and Mitigation Bitumen tiles Corrugated iron tins Fences Receptor site Destructive search
Tiles and Tins
Reptile fences
Destructive search
Reptile sites Looking at habitat and potential for reptiles
Enjoy!