Grass snake (Natrix natrix)
Grass snakes are the UK's largest reptile, and can reach up to 1.9m in length. They are one of the few animals that play dead as a defence against predators.
Watch video clips from past programmes (3 clips)
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Grass snake
The Nature of Britain
One of our commonest reptiles is perfectly suited to our canal system.
Baby grass snake
Realms of the Russian Bear
Baby grass snakes can be just as deadly as adults if you happen to be a tadpole.
Mating snakes
Realms of the Russian Bear
Grass snakes come out of hibernation with one thing on their mind.
Featured in the following TV programmes
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Archived
The Nature of Britain: Secret Britain
Alan Titchmarsh looks at resilient wildlife that has thrived in unexpected places.
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Archived
Realms of the Russian Bear: Episode 1:GREEN JEWEL OF THE CASPIAN
This 1st prog in a series exploring the natural history of the former Soviet Union,reveals the verdent beauty of the wetlands surrounding the Caspian sea
Featured in the following Radio programmes
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Catch Up
The Living World: Grass Snakes
Lionel Kelleway tries to get close to the grass snake, Britain's largest native snake.
About the Grass snake
The Grass Snake (Natrix natrix), sometimes called the Ringed Snake or Water Snake is a European non-venomous snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibians.
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Common Names
- Ringed snake
- Water snake
The Grass snake is
Adaptation data provided by Animal Diversity Web
Where can I see them?
This region contains the following habitats:
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder
Conservation Status
The Grass snake is Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
- EX - Extinct
- EW
- CR - Threatened
- EN - Threatened
- VU - Threatened
- NT
- LC - Least concern
Year assessed: 1996
Elsewhere on the web
- Grass snake - Natrix natrix (arkive.org)
- Natrix (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu)
- DigiMorph: skull scans and animation (digimorph.org)
- Herpetological Conservation Trust: fact file (herpconstrust.org.uk)
- Grass Snake (wikipedia.org)
Site links
BBC links
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