Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca) ♂ ©
Male Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca). The Smooth snake is the United Kingdom's rarest native reptile; it is totally harmless to man. In the UK, the Smooth snake is a specialist of heathland, and native populations can be found only in the south of England; in the counties of Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex. Like most snakes, the Smooth snake will eat almost anything that it can catch and swallow, however; they are mostly associated with a reptilian diet. Smooth snakes grow to a length of about 60-70cm (exceptionally up to 80cm), and appear slimmer than our other native snakes. The Smooth snake is so named because it lacks the central keels, or ridges on its scales, unlike our native Adder and Grass snake. This adaptation means that it is not as swift as our other snakes, but is well suited to navigating dense vegetation. Due to this name, the very smooth Slow worm is often misreported as being a Smooth snake. Exceptional individuals have reached an age of almost 30 years in the wild. Although usually considered mute, Smooth snakes can emit a quiet short hiss when stressed, which is usually associated with a strike or sudden jerk of the fore-body. They do not emit prolonged warning hisses like the Adder and Grass snake. The Smooth snake is usually of a matt colouration; usually a dark grey or dull brown, although brick-red specimens are not uncommon. The dark, almost black dorsal markings are not immediately apparent, and are arranged along the back, from neck to tail, as pairs of dots, bars or dashed lines. There is usually a second pair of lines, one of each running along the flanks of the body, although these are frequently even less obvious than the dorsal markings.The top of the head always features a large dark heart-shaped marking, which is sometimes described as a 'butterfly'. There is a characteristic dark line on the side of the head, that runs across the eye. Unlike the venomous Adder, the Smooth snake has round pupils. Copy courtesy of Surrey ARG. Specimen and handled photographed by Nick Dobbs in Dorset under license as part of an official survey 13-06-20
Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca) ♂ ©
Male Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca). The Smooth snake is the United Kingdom's rarest native reptile; it is totally harmless to man. In the UK, the Smooth snake is a specialist of heathland, and native populations can be found only in the south of England; in the counties of Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex. Like most snakes, the Smooth snake will eat almost anything that it can catch and swallow, however; they are mostly associated with a reptilian diet. Smooth snakes grow to a length of about 60-70cm (exceptionally up to 80cm), and appear slimmer than our other native snakes. The Smooth snake is so named because it lacks the central keels, or ridges on its scales, unlike our native Adder and Grass snake. This adaptation means that it is not as swift as our other snakes, but is well suited to navigating dense vegetation. Due to this name, the very smooth Slow worm is often misreported as being a Smooth snake. Exceptional individuals have reached an age of almost 30 years in the wild. Although usually considered mute, Smooth snakes can emit a quiet short hiss when stressed, which is usually associated with a strike or sudden jerk of the fore-body. They do not emit prolonged warning hisses like the Adder and Grass snake. The Smooth snake is usually of a matt colouration; usually a dark grey or dull brown, although brick-red specimens are not uncommon. The dark, almost black dorsal markings are not immediately apparent, and are arranged along the back, from neck to tail, as pairs of dots, bars or dashed lines. There is usually a second pair of lines, one of each running along the flanks of the body, although these are frequently even less obvious than the dorsal markings.The top of the head always features a large dark heart-shaped marking, which is sometimes described as a 'butterfly'. There is a characteristic dark line on the side of the head, that runs across the eye. Unlike the venomous Adder, the Smooth snake has round pupils. Copy courtesy of Surrey ARG. Specimen and handled photographed by Nick Dobbs in Dorset under license as part of an official survey 13-06-20