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Sand Lizards are a
short stocky lizard growing between 18-20cms. They are
usually brown with creamy bellies, with the male having
green sides which become brighter in the breading
season. They are found all over Europe restricted
to the heathlands and sand dunes. They are now
rare in Britain mainly due to loss of their habitat. They are now
protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. |
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| Common
Lizards have long bodies and short legs growing
between 10-16cms. They are usually brown with the males
having orange/yellow bellies and the females
creamy/white bellies. They are found all over Europe in
a number of habitats like woodlands, marshes, heathland
and moors. They are widespread and not considered
to be endangered. |
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| Slow
Worms look like snakes but are legless lizards
growing to about30-50cms. They have smooth shiny
bodies which are light brown through to bronze with pale
bellies. They are found all over Europe in humid
habitats such as grassy meadows, gardens, farmland and
woodland margins. They are protected under The
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 |
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Adders are short
robust snakes with large heads and a rounded snout
growing between 50-65cms, with the females being larger.
Males are a grey or buff colour with vivid black
markings while female are brown with dark red-brown
markings that are less prominent. They are
widespread throughout Europe and occupy a number of
habitats including open woodland, hedgerows, moorland
and heathlands. They are protected under The
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 |
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| Grass
Snakes are grey-green in colour with black
spots and a yellow/cream/orange collar with white or
pale cream bellies. They grow to about 70-120cms
with the females larger than the males. They are
found all over Europe in damp habitats including river
banks, ponds and ditches. They are protected under
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as they have
become scarce in Britain in recent years |
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| Smooth
Snakes are slender and covered in flat scales,
which helps with burrowing; they vary in colour from
grey, brown to reddish-brown with dark spots. They
grow to around 50-60cms. They are found all over
Europe and southern England in dry habitats such as
embankments, heathland, hedgerows and open woodland.
They are very rare in England and are protected under
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Loss of
habitat is the main reason for this. |
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Common Toads have
a broad, squat body with short toes, webbed hind feet
and rounded snout. The grow between 8-15cms with
the males smaller than the females. Their skin
colour varies according to the time of year, area, sex
and age. They can be dark brown, grey, olive,
terracotta or sandy coloured. They are widespread
in Britain and most of Europe in damp areas of
woodlands, scrub, gardens, parks and fields. |
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Natterjack Toads have a fairly flattened bodies
with short limbs and feet that are not completely
webbed. They grow to about 6-8cms with the females
larger than the males. They are pale brown, olive
or grey with red, brown or green warts. They have
a yellow stripe that starts at the top of their snouts
and runs down their backs. They are found in
southwest and central Europe but are now rare in Britain
due to the loss of their heathland. They prefer
habitats with loose, sandy soil like sand dunes and
lowland heaths. They are protected under The
Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981. |
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| Common
Frogs have a robust body and short hind legs
with webbed toes. They have smooth skin which
varies in colour from grey, olive green and yellow to
various shades of brown. They grow anywhere
between 6-10cms with the females larger than the males.
They are the most common species of frog found in
Britain and Europe. They are protected by the
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Population can
be threatened in areas where breeding ponds are
disturbed or polluted. |
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Crested Newts can
grow up to 17cms long. They have dark grey-brown
backs and flanks, their undersides are either yellow or
orange with large black blotches. The males have a
jagged crest that runs along their backs. They are
widespread but extremely local in Britain and northern
Europe in weedy ponds and small lakes. They have
declined within the UK over recent years due to
pollution and habitat destruction. They are
protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. |
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| Palmate
Newts are olive green or light brown with
orange bellies and a white unspotted throat unlike the
smooth newt with which they are often confused.
Females are larger than the males growing up to 10cms
compared to the 9cms of the male. They are found
across Europe in shallow water such as ponds, lakes and
canal. They are protected in all countries where
they live. |
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| Smooth
Newts are pale brown or olive green with two
darker strips on their backs. They have an orange
belly, paler in females. They grow to about
7-11cms, the males slightly larger. They are most
common newt found in Europe living in woodlands, wet
heathland, bogs, marshes, gardens, parks and farmland.
They are protected in Britain under The Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981 |
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