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)

+ImageNameHead (dorsal)Head (lateral)DistributionCommon adder(Vipera berus)Barred grass snake(Natrix helvetica)Smooth snake(Coronella austriaca)

Lizards (Lacertilia)

+ImageNameDistributionSlow worm(Anguis fragilis)Viviparous lizard(Zootoca vivipara)Sand lizard(Lacerta agilis)

Sea turtles (Chelonioidea)

+ImageNameDistributionLeatherback sea turtle(Dermochelys coriacea)ForagingLoggerhead sea turtle(Caretta caretta)VagrantGreen sea turtle(Chelonia mydas)VagrantInns, Howard (2009) Britain's Reptiles and Amphibians, Wildguides.Hawksbill sea turtle(Eretmochelys imbricata)VagrantKemp's ridley sea turtle(Lepidochelys kempii)VagrantOlive ridley sea turtle(Lepidochelys olivacea)Vagrant

Pond turtles (Emydidae)

+ImageNameDistributionEuropean pond turtle(Emys orbicularis)Extirpated - currently extinct in Britain but the rewilding organisation, Celtic Rewilding, aims to reintroduce them by 2026.

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

External links 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.