The Wildlife Trusts is a movement made up of 46 Wildlife Trusts: independent charities with a shared mission. The grass snake grows to over a metre (3-feet) long, and is strongly associated with water habitats, including garden ponds. Vipera berus, the common European adder or common European viper, is a venomous snake that is extremely widespread and can be found throughout most of Western Europe and as far as East Asia. The species is also the only venomous snake native to Great Britain. Try 6 issues of BBC Wildlife Magazine for just £9.99! Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences. Known by a host of common names including common adder and common viper, adders have been the subject of much folklore in Britain … Grass Snake Care Sheet. However they rarely reach this maximum size. This species of snake is found within the grasslands of the UK. Potential Adult Size: 90-150cm (36-54 inches) Average Life Span: 15+ years. Thanks! The barred grass snake is the species found here in the UK, following a taxonomic split in 2017. In Great Britain the Grass Snake is the largest reptile, reaching up to 190 centimetres (6 ft 3 in) total length, though such large specimens are rare. The barred grass snake has a dark grey-green upper body with characteristic black barring along the flanks. The snakes do however regularly exceed lengths of one metre, with the females being larger than males. The Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica) is Britain’s longest snake, with large females sometimes reaching up to 1.5m in length! Grass snake sightings are rare in the UK, with an estimated 320,000 of the reptiles found in the wild. Larger snakes may also hiss and feign strikes at attackers whilst flattening themselves out, therefore looking bigger than they really are. Regulated by the Fundraising Regulator. Such is the flexibility of grass (and other) snakes that they can sometimes tie themselves in knots as they settle into tight grasses or slither into narrow cracks. Being semi-aquatic grass snakes feed mostly on toads, frogs and newts. The grey/green grass snake is a placid, sun-loving creature that enjoys basking on grassy banks on warm summer days. The UK has three species of grass snake, adder and smooth snake. On sites that smooth snakes are found, you generally tend to find all six native species of reptiles. You can unsubscribe at any time. Grass snakes are extremely shy - and not venomous! Lifecycle. Their undersides are lighter in colour. They help us look after over 2,300 nature reserves and protect the animals that call them home. * Until recently, the UK Grass snake was classified as Natrix natrix helvetica. Like the grass snake, they lack venom but they constrict their prey instead. They are our longest native snake and can reach 150cm. As a charity we rely on memberships. They have a round pupil and have a green back with dark bars. When threatened by predators, these reptiles often bunch their coils and stay stock still, lolling their tongues and rolling their eyes into their skulls with theatrical aplomb. The snakes do however regularly exceed lengths of one metre, with the females being larger than males. The barred grass snake is normally found in lowland regions in the south of England. Dietary Requirements: Carnivorous. As its name suggests, it is widespread throughout the UK, living in commons, heaths, moorland, dry stone walls and sea cliffs. Grass snakes have a characteristic orange or yellow collar around their necks. They can be attracted to compost heaps where they sometimes lay their eggs. It certainly doesn’t seem to cause grass snakes any obvious problems. Grass snakes are spotted during the UK summer months from April to September. The behaviour is reasonably common in adults, but rarer in young snakes. Discover fantastic facts about Britain's largest native terrestrial reptile in our expert guide by PhD student Steven Allain. They also have a yellow and black collar at the back of their heads. These snakes have a black and cream or white collar at the base of the head and are also proficient swimmers. The snakes can be more than a metre (3ft) long, are found near water and eat … The barred grass snake, Natrix helvetica, was split off as a separate species in 2017. Other common names: European water snake, Sardinian grass snake, ringed snake, barred grass snake DESCRIPTION. Distribution In the UK, the grass snake … It is completely harmless to man, and almost never bites, even when caught. The other two snakes native to the UK are the smooth snake and the adder, which is venomous. Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. By entering your details, you are agreeing to Discover Wildlife terms and conditions and privacy policy. Britain’s longest snake, grass snakes can exceed a metre in length. Typically grass snakes are grey-green in colour. An adder bite is a…, Despite appearances, the slow worm is actually a legless lizard, not a worm or a snake! A year in the life…Spring Most likely to be found underneath objects lying on the ground, or in compost heaps. Different types of protected wildlife sites, How to identify swifts, swallows, sand martins and house martins. Please consider becoming a member of your local Wildlife Trust today. Credit: Ann Jacobs / WTML The grass snake is usually greenish in colour - although this can vary. Grass snakes can grow to a maximum length of around 180cm, making it our largest native terrestrial reptiles. Want to know how to identify British snakes? Mating takes place in April or May with females laying eggs in June or July, normally in rotting vegetation (such as compost heaps). They will however occasionally take prey such as small mammals, fish and, occasionally, birds. The markings of grass snakes can be rather variable. Grass snakes are extremely strong swimmers and they can often be seen swimming across bodies of open water, especially after they have been disturbed from basking nearby. Grass snake. In April, a crafty snake was filmed laying in wait hoping to snag a fisherman's catch of the day. They have a yellow and black collar, pale belly, and dark markings down the sides. The grass snake (Natrix natrix), sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake, is a Eurasian non-venomous colubrid snake. Grass snakes begin hibernation from October, and will typically emerge in either March or April (depending on the weather). Read our fundraising promise here. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) The underparts are pale. The eyes are prominent and the pupils rounded, and the nostrils are at the sides of the snout (not towards the top). Among Europe's larger snakes, the grass snake is also heavily-built with a distinct, rounded head. They are typically 15 cm in length from nose to tail. How intentional this behaviour is remains largely unknown. It has a distinctive yellow and black collar around the neck, a feature it shares with the grass snake. Look out for it basking in the sun on heathlands…, Grass snake or adder? Registered charity number 207238. Like all reptiles, grass snake hibernate, usually from October to April. The grass snake is our longest snake, but don't worry if you find one in the compost heap - it's harmless! This is the UK’s longest snake, growing to well over a metre in length. Elsewhere in Europe they occur in Switzerland, Italy, France and western Germany. There are three species of grass snakes found in Europe being the barred grass snake, the Iberian grass snake and the grass snake. Common lizards are brown (but can also be yellow, green and black) with dark spots or stripes running lengthways down the body. Grass snakes are usually olive green with black bars along the flanks and small black dots on the dorsal side. Grass snakes vary in colour but are usually olive-green, however, grey or brown is not unusual. Grass snakes have round pupils and range in colour from green to brown with black stripes on their sides and a white belly. Grass snakes, which grow to more than one metre (3ft) in length, live near water, mainly feeding on amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts. Our only venomous snake, the shy adder can be spotted basking in the sunshine in woodland glades and on heathlands. Male Grass snakes measure up to 90 centimetres in length, female Grass snakes are slightly larger measuring 130 – 190 centimetres. A Crowthorne resident has filmed the moment he came across the largest snake species found in the UK. It has a distinctive yellow and black collar around … The only venomous native snake in the UK is the adder. Most grass snakes will always live close to water, so a pong or river nearby is more suited to a grass snake. It spends most of its time underground or in vegetation litter. grass snakes are very rare. One study found that 66 per cent of wild-caught grass snakes exhibited the death-feigning response when threatened, yet no (lab-reared) hatchlings appeared to rely on this adaptive behaviour. This is because grass snakes are a semi aquatic species and spend a lot of their time in water. portrait of a grass snake, natrix natrix, close-up - grass snake stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. Like most reptiles, they will spend the first few days sunbathing close to the area where they hibernated. It’s a harmless snake that can reach over a metre in length and live for 25 years. You're now subscribed to our newsletter. Their belly is also covered in black markings that are unique to each individual. They’re quite often seen in gardens, especially those with ponds which the snakes can hunt in. Try 6 issues of BBC Wildlife for just £9.99, Grass snake guide: species facts, how to identify, and where to see, The barred grass snake is the species found here in the UK, following a taxonomic split in 2017, Episode Five: Ultimate wildlife hides – interview with Bence Mate, Episode Four: How to use backgrounds to take a great wildlife photograph, Smooth snake guide: how to identify, and why they are rare in the UK, Adders could be facing a risk of extinction across Britain. Read…, The Wildlife Trusts: Protecting Wildlife for the Future. How to identify grass snakes © Jamie Hall/Getty. They usually simply pull the knot wide with their super-muscular skeleton and slide through the loop as if the knot weren’t there. It can grow to a length of over a metre. Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. The yellow and black collar markings are distinctive and any snake seen in … Grass snakes have a seasonal diet, taking different prey at times when they are easiest to catch. Barred grass snakes can be found across England and Wales as well as southern Scotland. They are generally olive-green to brown in colour with black bars spaced evenly down their flanks. The barred grass snake is normally found in lowland regions in the south of England. The rotting vegetation acts as a natural incubator for the developing eggs. The grass snake, while it could technically give you a bite if cornered, is not poisonous. They are usually spotted in wetlands and grasslands but can be seen in gardens too. They will also catch mice and voles where they can, but this is rare. Hatchlings 16-20 cm with similar markings to adults. grass snake (natrix natrix) flicking its tongue, jersey, channel islands, uk - grass snake stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. 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