Smooth snake  (Coronella austriaca)

The smooth snake is widely distributed in Europe, but has a very restricted range in Britain, which reflects the distribution of southern heaths (7), and is found only in Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey (2), with a reintroduced population in West Sussex (7). In the last century the British range has decreased; the species has been lost from Wiltshire and Berkshire (2) and there are historic records from Devon (7).

In Britain the smooth snake is found in dense stands of mature heather on dry, sandy or gravely heathland sites (2). They also occur in humid heaths and bogs next to dry heath (7).