Reptile Identification Guide

This photo-guide is intended to serve as a reference aid for NARRS surveyors participating in the National
Reptile Survey.
Common lizard Zootoca (Lacerta) vivipara
Small slender lizards, typically 12-15cm long.
Males back markings tend to be speckled

Orange underside in males

Can be green (all over)

Females back markings tend to form vertebral stripe

Juveniles almost black when born, but become a bronzy brown colour over time.
Juvenile male (can see speckled markings)

Juvenile female (can see vertebral stripe)

Slow-worm Anguis fragilis

Strong, cylindrical, legless lizards, up to about 40cm total length. Secretive, spend most time
beneath vegetation in leaf litter.

Males grey or brown, tend to lack obvious stripes; may have blue spots.

Females dark brown sides and usually dark vertebral stripe(s).

Juveniles typically gold in colour, with dark sides and vertebral stripe.

Grass snake Natrix natrix

Very fast and alert snake, sometimes over 100cm but usually less. Usually dark green or
greyish-blue, with dark vertical bars along sides. Almost always a yellow collar behind head.
Round pupils. Darker or black individuals possible; collar varies white to red. Males and females
look similar, but females grow larger and males have relatively longer tails. Emits foul-smelling
anal secretion when captured. May feign death.

Eating a common toad.

Sometimes feign death when captured.

Juveniles are miniature versions of adults.

Empty egg shells found in manure heap.

Adder Vipera berus

Instantly recogniseable from zigzag along the back. Stockier than grass snake. Up to 60cm or
so. Venomous; keep a good distance and always take care when lifting tins.

Males typically greyish or bluish, but can be beige or bronze; always with a BLACK zigzag.

Females ginger, brown or buff; always with a BROWN zigzag.

Female

Black (melanistic) adder

Juveniles tend to be ginger

Sand lizard Lacerta agilis

Only present in heathlands in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex; and on some sand
dunes in Merseyside, north Wales and southern England.
Always have strips of ocellated markings (dark blobs with pale centres) along sides and back.
Males develop bright green sides in spring; fades over summer. Females are grey-brown with
bolder markings. Juveniles have tiny ocellated markings.

Male

Female

Juvenile

Smooth snake Coronella austriaca

Only present in heathlands in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
Paired or barred markings along neck and back. Need to see belly colour or tail to tell sex.
Males have longer bulging tail; females have shorter thinner tail. Males have pinkish-orange
underside. Readily strike and bite; often flatten head to resemble adder.

Barred or paired markings

Male underside

Adder head

Juvenile

Alien species
Present in isolated locations; unlikely to be encountered. Please report any sightings at
www.alienencounters.org.uk.

Red-eared terrapin

European wall lizards

Photos courtesy of John Baker, Julia Carey, Jon Cranfield, Terry Elborn,
Chris Gleed-Owen, Fred Holmes, Paul Stevens.
Compiled by The Herpetological Conservation Trust, with financial support
from Natural England. The HCT 2007.

European green lizard