Newt sp., Pleurodelinae

Newt nymph migrating across the south side road © Nigel Milbourne 2007

Herpetology is the study of the classes amphibia and reptilia, and according to the British Herpetological Society there are just 13 native species in the UK. However, there are also a number of non-native species that have been released. Here is a ‘Herptile’ list for the site based on my own observations. All records are my own unless stated, so any inaccuracy is entirely down to me. If anyone has records they’d like to include, please contact me and I will insert and acknowledge them accordingly.

I have recorded newt nymphs in fair numbers migrating away from the lake over many years, but rarely found any adults. I have not been able to identify the little orange nymphs to species, but assume their parents must be present in good numbers at the appropriate time of year. It is quite possible that all three species of native newt are present at the lake but I haven’t carried out any surveys and there are no records on the NBN Atlas. With the increase in number of egrets at the lake in the last decade or so, the amphibian population will undoubtedly have taken a huge hit. It is, perhaps, something that would have made for a very informative research project, but I fear that it is too late to start now.

A species that might be present at the lakeside, that I have yet to record, is the Common Lizard. I was told of one being seen at Top End on a bridge parapet, many years ago, but don’t think the record was ever officially submitted. I have seen just one Slow Worm in all the years I’ve spent around the lake. Barred Grass Snakes occur in reasonable numbers, but I don’t know of any Adder records and, of course, the Smooth Snake has a very restricted distribution in the UK. The only reptile records I can find on the NBN Atlas are, unsurprisingly, for Barred Grass Snake.

During a fairly recent WeBS count, that I was not present at, observers noted a turtle or terrapin/slider hauled out of the water on the dam wall. They were not able to identify it, but based on the number of times we’ve seen alien Red-eared Sliders at Chew Valley Lake after the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle’ craze of the 1980’s, I would think it highly likely to be another one that had been released into the wild when it outgrew its aquarium.

Annotated Site Herptile List [2024]

Class Amphibia

Order Anura (Frogs & Toads)

Family Bufonidae

  • Common Toad Bufo bufo Linnaeus, 1758. Common.

Family Ranidae

  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Linnaeus, 1758. Common.

Order Caudata (Salamanders, Sirens & Newts.)

Family Salamandridae

  • Palmate Newt Lissotriton helveticus (Razoumovsky, 1789). Unknown.

Class Reptilia

Order Squamata (Snakes & Lizards)

Family Anguidae

  • Slow-worm Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758. Extremely rare (2022), but probably under recorded.

Family Colubridae

  • Barred Grass Snake Natrix helvetica (Lacépède, 1789).
    • Grass Snake Natrix h. helvetica (Lacépède, 1789). Fairly common

Key to abundance:

Extremely rare – five or less records

Very rare – twenty or less records

Rare – less than annual; many years between records

Very scarce – less than annual; typically every 2 or 3 years

Scarce – very small numbers virtually every year

Uncommon – recorded in low numbers each year

Fairly common – occurs in reasonable numbers

Common – regularly occurs in good numbers

Abundant – occurs in large numbers

Bibliography (sources of information):

The British Herpetological Society

Last update: 25th September 2024