{"id":5150,"date":"2024-03-25T21:44:45","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T21:44:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/?p=5150"},"modified":"2024-03-25T21:44:47","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T21:44:47","slug":"reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Reptiles You Can Find in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk\/#Smooth-Snake-Coronella-austriaca\" title=\"Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)\">Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk\/#Barred-Grass-Snake-Natrix-helvetica\" title=\"Barred Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica)\">Barred Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk\/#Common-Grass-Snake-Natrix-Natrix\" title=\"Common Grass Snake (Natrix Natrix)\">Common Grass Snake (Natrix Natrix)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk\/#Adder-Vipera-berus\" title=\"Adder (Vipera berus)\">Adder (Vipera berus)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk\/#Aesculapian-Snake-Zamenis-longissimus\" title=\"Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus)\">Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk\/#Slow-Worm-Anguis-fragilis\" title=\"Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis)\">Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk\/#Common-Lizard-Zootoca-vivipara\" title=\"Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara)\">Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk\/#Sand-Lizard-Lacerta-agilis\" title=\"Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis)\">Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/reptiles-you-can-find-in-the-uk\/#Final-Word-Reptiles-You-Can-Find-in-the-UK\" title=\"Final Word: Reptiles You Can Find in the UK\">Final Word: Reptiles You Can Find in the UK<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>As reptile keepers, we\u2019re excited about reptiles from all over the world. The UK has several species of reptiles that are rarely spoken about and people in the UK know little about them. So in this article, we thought we would list the species that you can find in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Smooth-Snake-Coronella-austriaca\"><\/span>Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the rarest snakes in England, the snake can only be found in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, and West Sussex. It is a very vulnerable snake that requires a well-managed heathland. It is highly unlikely that you will see a smooth snake as they&#8217;re very small and shy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Barred-Grass-Snake-Natrix-helvetica\"><\/span>Barred Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Barred grass snakes are a common species to be seen. They\u2019re found across England and Wales, and even into the southwest of Scotland. The olive-green serpents have dark spots and a very distinctive yellow and black colour, something that it shares with the common grass snake. The Barred Grass Snake is the longest snake in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common-Grass-Snake-Natrix-Natrix\"><\/span>Common Grass Snake (Natrix Natrix)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The common grass snake is not a native to the UK, but an introduced species through human movements. Until August 2017, it was assumed that Natrix helvetica and Natrix Natrix were the same species. That was until genetic analysis was conducted on the Barred Grass Snakes that found it was distinct. Something similar happened with the Green Anaconda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Adder-Vipera-berus\"><\/span>Adder (Vipera berus<strong><em>)<\/em><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Adder is the only venomous snake in the UK. It can be found as far north as the top of mainland Scotland. It is a small snake that prefers to hide. Though it is frequently disturbed by cats and dogs. Dogs bitten by species can suffer from significant health problems and perhaps death. The last recorded death by the Adder was in 1975, with only 14 confirmed fatalities in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can recognize an adder because of its distinctive zigzag pattern on the upperparts and red eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Aesculapian-Snake-Zamenis-longissimus\"><\/span>Aesculapian Snake (Zamenis longissimus)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This species of snake is a non-native species that has established two populations in the UK. One of these is in London, in Regent\u2019s Park along the Thames. The other is in North Wales. The population in London was caused by the release of the species from a research centre at&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>London Zoo (but not affiliated with the Zoo). The North Wales species was caused by an escaped female from a zoo that was gravid. All the offspring of this group are related.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A third population is thought to exist in Bridgend, South Wales. It is important to note that this species is thought to have existed in the UK during an interglacial period until its range declined as the world cooled again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Slow-Worm-Anguis-fragilis\"><\/span>Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Slow Worm is often mistaken for a snake but is actually a legless lizard. They can be found in many locations across the UK. They are comparatively small reptiles, with no legs, and a metallic bronze sheen, and the females have dark stripes along the body. Slow Worms feed on insects, slugs, spiders, and other small invertebrates. Like with many lizards, their tails can break off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common-Lizard-Zootoca-vivipara\"><\/span>Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most widespread of all UK wild reptiles, it is the only native reptile found in Northern Ireland too. It is highly variable in colour and can be found in a wide range of habitats. This species is viviparous, giving birth to live young after incubating their eggs inside the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sand-Lizard-Lacerta-agilis\"><\/span>Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This very rare species of lizard is highly threatened. It can only be found in a few spots across the UK, in heathland and coastal sand dunes. The species is included in several conservation efforts. It is larger than the common lizard, generally brown in colour with bright green faces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Females of this species do lay eggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final-Word-Reptiles-You-Can-Find-in-the-UK\"><\/span>Final Word: Reptiles You Can Find in the UK<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Above are all the species of reptiles that you can find in the UK. A few of these have been introduced. The common grass snake is thought to be introduced partly by mistake as it was once considered to be the same as the Barred Grass Snake. The other introduced species, Aesculapian Snake, was done by accident by individuals working on zoo premises.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As reptile keepers, we\u2019re excited about reptiles from all over the world. The UK has several species of reptiles that are rarely spoken about&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Reptiles-You-Can-Find-in-the-UK.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5150"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5150"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5150\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5152,"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5150\/revisions\/5152"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/djlexotics.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}