Identification of Reptiles in the UK Six native species four are widespread Several introduced species becoming more common!

Species most likely to be encountered Common lizard Slow-worm Grass snake Adder

Species less likely to be encountered Sand lizard Smooth snake Red-eared terrapin Wall lizard Green lizard Report aliens at

Common lizard Males: speckled back & orange belly

Common lizard Males: speckled back penile bulge

Common lizard Females: striped back

Common lizard - juveniles male (speckled) female (striped) start to develop adult markings Initially almost black (born in egg membrane), soon become bronze

Eyed markings (‘ocelli’) Males: broad head green sides in breeding season Females: bold eyed markings Sand lizard Juveniles: tiny but distinct eyed markings

Slow-worm Males: typically grey or brown, lack distinct stripes, may have blue spots

Slow-worm Females: dark brown sides, may have vertebral stripe(s)

Slow-worm Juveniles: dark sides and vertebral stripe

Slow-worm Juveniles: usually yellow/gold, but varies through ivory and pink!

Grass snake Fast and alert, slender, UK’s largest reptile

Grass snake Green, grey or brown, usually yellow collar

Grass snake Round pupils

Grass snake Males: smaller, but longer tails Females: get bigger, but shorter tails

Grass snake Eggs usually laid in manure/compost juveniles

Grass snake Usually void foul-smelling liquid from anus if captured; sometimes feign death

Adder Male: often grey Female: usually brown BUT…..can be difficult to sex (and difficult to see tail differences)

Adder Males: can be bronze/beige but always BLACK zigzag

Adder Females: always have BROWN zigzag, however dark

Adder Females: can be ginger, with BROWN zigzag

Adder Black (melanistic) adders not uncommon

Adder Juveniles tend to be ginger or reddish

Smooth snake Paired or barred markings Males orange underside Readily strike/bite or do ‘adder head’

Juveniles slender and small

Females – shorter thinner tail Males – longer thicker tail

Scalation (head) Patterning Sloughed skins

Non-native species Wall lizard Green lizard Red-eared terrapin

Photographs Photographs used in this presentation are by Lee Brady, Julia Carey, Jon Cranfield, Terry Elborn, Chris Gleed-Owen, Fred Holmes, Paul Stevens and John Wilkinson Copyright of all photographs remains with the photographers and ARC These photographs should not be used for purposes other than NARRS training without the permission of the photographers.