Snakes

Adder

livelinkadmin — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:38:09 +0100

The Adder is quite a small snake with a length of around sixty centimetres and is one of three snakes found in England. The other two snakes are the Grass Snake and the Smooth Snake. It can be found throughout the country on heaths, moors, open woodlands and in rough grassland.

The Adder can easily be recognised because it has a brown or black zigzag pattern running down the length of its back. Another noticeable feature of the Adder is a ‘V’ shaped marking on the back of its head. The Adder, unlike the two other native snakes, is known as a viper because it is a venomous. It has hollow fangs which poison runs through when it wants to kill an animal.

The Adder is very a secretive reptile that likes to hide in holes, crevices and burrows made by other animals. Like all reptiles, Adders are cold-blooded which means they need the heat of the sun to make them more active. Adders also hibernate and often shed their skins soon after they have emerged from hibernation. These skins can sometimes be found on country walks.

Snake (Grass)

livelinkadmin — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:39:06 +0100

The Grass Snake is the largest of the three snakes found in England. The other two snakes are the Adder and the Smooth Snake. It can be found throughout the country in marshes, fens, bogs and also in woodlands and meadows that have water nearby. It is sometimes known as the Water Snake because it spends a lot of time in water.

The Grass Snake is about one metre in length and usually has a green coloured body with small black markings running down the length of it. It is also called the Ringed Snake because it has a yellow band behind its head. The yellow band can be seen quite clearly when the Grass Snake is in water.

Grass Snakes are very secretive reptiles that often dive under water and hide between water weeds if they get disturbed. Like other reptiles, they are cold-blooded which means they need the heat of the sun to make them more active. Grass Snakes also hibernate and often shed their skins soon after they have emerged from hibernation. These skins can sometimes be found on country walks.

Snake (Smooth)

livelinkadmin — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:40:27 +0100

The Smooth Snake is a very rare snake that can only be found in limited parts of England in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex. It lives on heathlands that have dense vegetation and light sandy soil. It needs sandy soil so it can dig a burrow to hide and rest in. It is one of three native snakes which include the Adder and the Grass Snake.

The Smooth Snake is a relatively small snake with a length of about fifty to seventy centimetres. It can easily be recognised because it has a large dark heart-shaped patch on the top of its head. It also has a black stripe on each side of its face. The male Smooth Snake is a brownish red colour and the female is greyish green.

The Smooth Snake is a very secretive snake that spends a lot of time hiding under the ground or under rocks and stones. It is not a venomous snake like the Adder so it kills it prey by wrapping its coils around it. Like all reptiles, Smooth Snakes are cold-blooded which means they need the heat of the sun to make them more active. Smooth Snakes moult their skins once or twice a year. They also hibernate underground between October and April when the weather is very cold.