Lincolnshire Species

Amphibians and Reptiles

Adder  Grass snake  Slow-worm  Common lizard  Common frog

Common toad  Natterjack toad  Great Crested newt  Common newt  Palmate newt

If you require further information please contact Kevin Wilson, Warden, Gibraltar Point NNR.

Adder   ( Vipera berus )
2 photos		Adders can be identified by the dark zig-zag pattern running along the back and the dark V-shape on the back of the head, with the point of the V starting between the eyes. Adders, unlike grass snakes, prefer dry open conditions. They are most commonly seen on heathlands and acid grasslands, providing there are bare areas. They are Britain's only poisonous snake, but bites are very rare and fatalities have been fewer than 10 since 1960. When walking in suitable adder habitat, it is a good idea to wear stout footware which protects the ankles, the area where most bites occur. Adders can be seen on the Trust's heathland nature reserves around Woodhall Spa and Market Rasen.

Grass snake   ( Natrix natrix )
3 photos		The grass snake is Britain's largest snake, large individuals can be over a metre long. The grass snake has a green back and pale belly, with black bars along the flanks and a collar of yellow or white, edged with black, which almost encircles the neck. They live in waterside grassland with plenty of cover and are most likely to be seen swimming in search of their favourite prey, frogs. Grass snakes do not have a venomous bite and are harmless to man. They are occasionally seen on Trust wetland reserves.

Slow–worm   ( Anguis fragilis )
		Although they look similar, slow-worms are not snakes but legless lizards. They can be identified by their lack of markings on the body (older males sometimes have blue spots, females can have a very thin dark stripe along their back), the lizard-like head which is deeper than that of any British snake. They vary in colour from copper-brown to grey. They are usually much smaller than any of our native snakes. Unlike snakes, they also have eyelids and can close their eyes. Slow-worms live in places with plenty of grassy cover and warm, sunny banks. They are secretive and difficult to find, Trust grassland reserves in the south of the county are probably the best place to look.

Common lizard   ( Lacerta vivipara )
		Common lizards are often confused with newts. The habit of basking on walls, leaves and rocks is to lizards, and any small herptile doing this in Lincolnshire will be common lizard. Lizards have dry skin (unlike newts), dull brown, with darker side stripes and white flashes. They are found in almost all habitats and can be seen on most nature reserves, particularly those with grassy banks and bare areas. They are particularly approachable in April and May, after hibernation.

Common frog   ( Rana temporaria )
		The common frog is easily distinguished from the common toad by the smoothness and wetness of the skin, the variable colour, the dark patch behind the eye, and the fact that it hops instead of runs. The common frog can occur in many colour forms, including a startling red form and a yellow form. They are Lincolnshire's most common herptile and can be found on almost any site close to suitable breeding pools. They are best observed during warm evenings in May where hundreds can gather at suitable breeding sites.

Common toad   ( Bufo bufo )
		The common toad is more terrestrial in habit than the common frog and is often encountered further from water and in drier habitat. They have dry, warty skin, are usually a copper-brown to grey uniform colour. They are very common throughout the county and can be seen on most nature reserves. The best time to view toads is during their breeding season in April and May.

Natterjack toad   ( Bufo calamita )
		Our rarest breeding amphibian, natterjacks can be identified by their small size, green colour and the thin yellow stripe that runs along the back. They are secretive and largely nocturnal, often the only way that their presence is signaled is the penetrating, rattling croak of male on warm spring evenings. In Lincolnshire, the only natterjack toad populations are found in the sand dunes on the coast. Gibraltar Point and Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe dunes both have populations. The species was first identified by Joseph Banks from a population present at Revesby, not far from Horncastle.

Great Crested newt   ( Triturus cristatus )
		The great crested newt is our largest native newt, breeding males have a tall, frilly crest, and a yellow-orange and black spotted belly. They are considerably larger than other newts. Newts do not bask like lizards and out of the water are most likely to be found in old masonry and buried under stones. Great crested newts are present on sites with suitable breeding pools, they can move 500metres from these breeding pools.

Common newt   ( Triturus vulgaris )
		The common newt is one of our most common breeding amphibians. They are smaller than great crested newts and males have a smaller crest. They also have a spotted belly, but tend to be lighter in colour, yellow-olive rather than the dark green of the great crested newts. They are very common, and occur on most nature reserves, as well as most garden ponds with no fish.

Palmate newt   ( Triturus helveticus )
Photograph not available		Male palmate newts are easy to identify, having a dark eye-stripe, a low, smooth crest and a short but obvious filament at the end of the tail. They also have webbed hind feet. Female newts are very difficult to identify. The palmate new is very rare in Lincolnshire, recent records indicate it is present on just a few heathland reserves. Palmate newts may be under-recorded.