“Not
recorded in Britain until the 1850’s, this species has always been rare in the
British Isles – being much more commonly spread throughout Europe both in more
northern (Sweden and Norway) and western (Spain and Portugal) countries as well
as though central Europe.
The Smooth Snake
is habitat specific – recorded in lowland heaths and the immediately adjacent
habitats. Historically these habitats
were more common in southern Britain; but activities such as development and
intensification of agricultural practices resulted in losses to both the
habitat and the species that relied on them.
Currently populations are highly restricted to Dorset and Hampshire, with a few sites in Surrey, and Berkshire. Reintroduction programmes run by the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC-Trust), reintroduced smooth snakes to west Sussex and sites in Devon, Surrey and Hampshire where they had become extinct.
The
rarest of our British Dragons is the Smooth Snake. Due to its rarity it is
fully protected under UK and European law, protected against killing, injury,
capture, disturb or selling this species or damaging or destroying its
habitats. To stand the best chance of
seeing them, go out with a licensed expert and avoid unknowingly disturbing
this brilliant species. If you are
lucky enough to live in counties that support them, look out for them in your
travels – the fact file below will help you identify them.
Dragon Fact file –
Smooth Snake
Coronella austriaca
 |
| A Smooth Snake basking in heathland |
Its common name comes from
the smooth feel of its scales which are un-keeled. Its scientific name Coronella comes from crown – due to the
darker patterning on the crown of its head.
Adult length = 60cm.
Found only in lowland
heath and immediate adjacent habitats in parts of southern Britain.
Classed as decreasing
Globally, however listed as least concern globally due to its wide distribution
at the European level.
Smooth snake
|
Adder |
Pairs of irregular
spots that often join together and become less distinct towards the end
|
Zig Zag pattern
|
Dark crown or heart
shaped marking on crown of head
|
V shaped pattern on crown of head
|
Round pupils and
distinctive eye strip on side of head
|
Vertical pupil (slit like)
|
Up to 55cm – adult
length
|
Up to 55cm (male) up to 70cm –
(female)
|
Restricted
distribution to southern Britain
|
Wide spread distribution on
mainland Britain
|
Extremely rare and
localised and declining.
|
Rare and declining
|
Base colours under
patters – steel-grey, ginger light brown or yellowish
|
Base colours vary from various
shades of brown, grey, brick-red, purplish and black.
|
Smooth scales
|
Keeled scales
|
 |
| Heart shaped mark on crown of head,round pupiles and paired markings |
 |
| V shae on head, vertical slit-like pupil zig zag markings |
 |
| Smooth un-keeled scales |
 |
| Keeled scales as seen on an adder visable on this shed skin as a line across the centre of each scale |
Photos by Dr Silviu Petrovan, Matt Wilson and Laura Brady
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