The reptiles of Great Britain include three native snakes and three native lizards. A number of sea turtles visit Great Britain's shores. There are also at least seven introduced reptile species.

Snakes (Serpentes)

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|Common adder<br />(Vipera berus)

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|Barred grass snake<br />(Natrix helvetica)

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|Smooth snake<br />(Coronella austriaca)

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Lizards (Lacertilia)

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|Slow worm<br />(Anguis fragilis)

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|Viviparous lizard<br />(Zootoca vivipara)

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|Sand lizard<br />(Lacerta agilis)

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Sea turtles (Chelonioidea)

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|Leatherback sea turtle<br />(Dermochelys coriacea)

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|Foraging

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|Loggerhead sea turtle<br />(Caretta caretta)

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|Vagrant

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|Green sea turtle<br />(Chelonia mydas)

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|Vagrant

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|Hawksbill sea turtle<br />(Eretmochelys imbricata)

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|Vagrant

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Pond turtles (Emydidae)

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|European pond turtle<br />(Emys orbicularis)

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|Extirpated - currently extinct in Britain but the rewilding organisation, Celtic Rewilding, aims to reintroduce them by 2026.

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Introduced species

  • Red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans
  • Mediterranean house gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus
  • Common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis
  • Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus
  • Western green lizard, Lacerta bilineata - possible extirpated native
  • Aesculapian snake, Zamenis longissimus – former native (Pleistocene)
  • Grass snake, Natrix natrix
  • Note that a variety of other freshwater turtles have been introduced to the UK.

See also

  • Introduced species of the British Isles
  • Lists of reptiles by region

References

Notes

  • from wildlifetrust.org.uk
  • RAUK Identification Guide
  • Wilkinson, J.W., Baker, J. and Foster, J. Priorities for Non-Native Amphibians and Reptiles in the UK. ARC Research Report 11/02.