Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Lacerta ("lizard") agilis ("agile")

Adult female Sand Lizard (subspecies L. a. agilis) at Non-public Site, UK - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Lacerta agilis agilis
Weight: 12g  /  Length: 25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Much larger and rarer than the common lizard, the Sand Lizard is a specialist of heath and dunes which feeds upon insects.  In breeding colours the males become bright green making them easy to tell apart from the always brown common lizards, but the pattern and size should differentiate them if you familiarise yourself with it.  They are a protected species only found in a limited number of sites in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Lacerta
SUBSPECIES: L .a. agilis, L. a. argus, L. a. exigua

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very rare and local resident

 - Several individuals from a reintroduction scheme seen on a site not known to the public

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List. RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)

OTHER NAMES: Water Monitor, Malayan Water Monitor, Rice Lizard

Latin Etymology: Varanus ("dragon/lizard beast") salvator ("saviour")

Adult Asian Water Monitor (subspecies V. s. macromaculatus) at Malacca, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Varanus salvator macromaculatus

Weight: 19.5kg  /  Length: 150-200cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Water Monitor is a huge species of lizard - the second largest of the entire family after the Komodo Dragon, and with a far bigger range spreading across all of Southern Asia from India to Indonesia.  They are powerful opportunistic predators which will feed on eggs and live small food.  As the name suggests, they are also powerful swimmers and spend much of their time in water - using their powerful tail to propell them.  I only saw them in Malacca, a single large adult on the first evening on a short walk, followed by a number of young ones on an early morning walk along the same route the next morning - basking on the rocks mere feet away from humans.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
SUBSPECIES: V. s. salvator, V. s. andamanensis, V. s. bivittatus, V. s. komaini, V. s. macromaculatus, V. s.ziegleri

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Biawak Air ("Water Lizard")

A locally common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several near the river mouth in Malacca

SINGAPORE - A common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen in many locations, particularly abundant atSungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Ocellated Lizard (Timon lepidus)

OTHER NAMES: Eyed Lizard, Jeweled Lacerta

Latin Etymology: Timon (?) lepidus ("neat" or "graceful")

Adult Occelated Lizard (subspecies T. l. lepidus) at Laguna Campillo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Timon lepidus lepidus
Weight: 500g  /  Length: 30-60cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The Ocellated Lizard is the largest lizard in Europe, a species found throughout Iberia and Southern France.  It is a fairly omnivorous species, primarily feeding on beetles but will more broadly feed on anything it can find including bird's eggs, small vertebrates and plant matter as required.  The way to differentiate the males from the females are the blue spots on the flanks, but this individual wasn't interested in showing itself well

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Timon
SUBSPECIES: T. l. ibericus, T. l. lepidus, T. l. nevadensis, T. l. oteroi 

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish -  Lagarto Ocelado ("Ocellated Lizard")

A widespread resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A single individual at Laguna Campillo


Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Adder (Vipera berus)

OTHER NAMES: Adder, Common European Adder, Common Viper
Latin Etymology: Vipera ("viper") berus

Adult male Common Adder (subspecies V. b. berus) at Ketton Quarry Nature Reserve - May 2020

Featured Subspecies: Vipera berus berus 
Weight: 50-180g  /  Length: 60-90cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The common adder is something of an outlier in many ways; it shares with the Common Lizard the title of most Northerly reptile species, while also being the only venomous snake in the UK.  Despite it's negative reputation in the UK, it's a generally shy species that usually only attacks if cornered, otherwise it feeds on small animals as prey.  It's venom isn't as potent as other members of the vipers, and while there are recorded fatalities from their bites, this is usually only the case with already vulnerable people, although that doesn't mean the effects are pleasant!

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Vipera
SUBSPECIES: V. b. berus, V. b. bosniensis, V. b. sachalinensis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - a widely distributed, but scarce resident.

 - Seen at Ketton Quarry Nature Reserve in May 2020 and Weeting Heath in May 2013

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Striped Skink (Lipinia vittigera)

OTHER NAMES: Banded Lipinia, Yellow-striped Tree Skink
Latin Etymology: Lipinia vittigera

Adult Common Striped Skink (subspecies L. v. vittigera) at Angkor Thom, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Lipinia vittigera vittigera
Weight: ?  /  Length: 10cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While we headed towards the ruins of Banteay Kdei, a slight dash of colour caught my eye on a nearby tree; this beautiful little skink.  Skinks are one of the more distinctive genuses of lizards; generally characterised by smooth features, comparatively short limbs and rounded faces.  This species was my first skink I'd seen and also the most colourful reptile I'd seen to date - I only got a few moments to enjoy it though as it very rapidly retreated to a tiny hole in the bark of the tree.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Lipinia
SUBSPECIES: L. v. vittigera, L. v. microcercum 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
A fairly common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One near Angkor Thom

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Sun Skink (Eutropis multifasciata)

OTHER NAMES: East Indian Brown Mabuya, Many-lined Sun Skink, Golden Skink
Latin Etymology: Eutropis ("good keel") multifasciata ("multi-bundled")

Adult Common Sun Skink (subspecies E. m. multifasciata) at Siem Reap, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Eutropis multifasciata multifasciata
Weight: ?  /  Length: 35cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

This species was seen as we walked the open-air War Musuem of Cambodia; a simple little lizard slinking througgh the leaf litter, surrounded by the remnants of tools of death.  They're a fairly common species with a substantial range, but it's appearance in this particular somber place was welcome; a little dash of life in a place created so we never forget the death.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Eutropis
SUBSPECIES: E. m. balinensis, E. m. multifasciata, E. m tjendikianensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ?
A fairly common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: One seen at Siem Reap

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Changeable Lizard (Calotes versicolor)

OTHER NAMES: Variable Agama, Oriental Garden Lizard, Bloodsucker
Latin Etymology: Calotes (?) versicolor ("variable colours")

Adult female Changeable Lizard (subspecies C. v. versicolor) at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Calotes versicolor versicolor
Weight: ?  /  Length: 37cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

Agamas are an Old-World relation of the iguanas, but generally much smaller.  They are a much more "upright" lizard than all previous species I've encountered; on the one hand this means they are less adept at climbing flat surfaces than geckoes and wall lizards, but allows for faster running and improved climbing on bushes and trees.  In Singapore, they are an introduced species that has displaced other local lizards. The alternate name of "bloodsucker" comes from the fact that in breeding season, the males gain a bright red underside gives a look as if they had been feeding on blood.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Calotes
SUBSPECIES: C. v. farooqi, C. v. versicolor

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A common resident

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Several seen at Gardens by the Bay

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

OTHER NAMES: Esturine Crocodile, Indo-Pacific Crocodile, Saltie
Latin Etymology: Crocodylus ("crocodile") porosus ("full of callouses")

Adult Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 250-520kg  /  Length: 3.3m
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Saltwater Crocodiles is one of the largest of the entire crocodile family, and also one of the most dangerous to humans - multiple fatalities are reported every year from this species making it by a wide margin the most dangerous animal I have seen to date.  Despite this, it is a species with a wide range, across some of the most populous nations on early, being found in Australia right through to Indonesia.  In Singapore, the population is very small, being localised to just a few individuals at Sungei Buloh which reside in the main river channel into the reserve.

Related Species:
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Crocodylidae
Genus: Crocodylus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A small population at Sungei Buloh.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Two at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Chinese Pond Turtle (Mauremys reevesii)

OTHER NAMES: Reeves' Turtle, Japanese Coin Turtle, Golden Turtle

Latin Etymology: Mauremys (?) reevesii ("Reeves'")

Adult Chinese Pond Turtle (Mauremys reevesii, subspecies unknwon) at Maruyama, Kyoto, Japan, Malaysia - July 2013

Featured Subspecies: Unknown
Weight: 200-500g  /  Length: 12-30cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Endangered

This turtle species was seen in various bodies of water in Kyoto, where it seemed little bothered by human passers by.  Despite this it is considered endangered on a global level due to the fact that it is over hunted in China for food and pets.  In Japan it is an invasive species with a population derived from former pets, and is found in many locations.  Given it is apparently infamous for it's ability to reproduce with turtle species that are only distantly related it is a threat to local species.  Though it is rated as endangered overall, this is largely as a result of the Chinese population being under threat due to it being eaten - populations elsewhere are considered stable.

Related Species:
Order: Chelonii
Family: Geoemydidae
Genus: Mauremys
SUBSPECIES: M. r. reevesii, M. r. megalocephala

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN -  Japanese - クサガメ  /  Kusagame  ("Grasses Turtle")

A fairly common feral species.

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: Several in Kyoto in Maruyama.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Guadarrama Wall Lizard (Podarcis guadarramae)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Podarcis (?) guadarrama ("Spanish")

Adult Guadarrama Wall Lizard (Podarcis guadarramae) at Toledo, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies - Podarcis guadarramae guadarramae
Weight: 3.7g  /  Length: 15-20cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A fairly common resident of Central Spain, it is found in a variety of habitats, including in Cities in fairly open places where they can bask, including rocks, stone plazas, walls and even manhole covers.  It is very variable in colouration and patterning across its range, which meant that identifying this species was a tricky, there are other species in the area with similar appearances.  This particular lizard was living on the rocky steps of a small plaza next to a church in Toledo - scurrying under the slabs whenever it felt threatened.  Formerly considered part of the Spanish Wall Lizard complex, more recent studies have split many of these species.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Podarcis
SUBSPECIES: P. g. guadarramae, P. g. lusitanicus

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Lagartija Ibérica ("Wall Lizard")

Common to locally abundant resident associated with Granite outcrops.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: A number seen in Madrid and Toledo
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several seen in at El Pardo

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Slowworm (Anguis fragilis)

OTHER NAMES: Common Slow Worm, Deaf Adder, Blindworm
Latin Etymology: Anguis ("snake") fragilis ("fragile")

Adult female Slowworm (subspecies A. f. fragilis) at Trevose Head, Cornwall - July 2019

Featured Subspecies: Anguis fragilis fragilis
Weight: < 100g  /  Length: < 50cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Despite the leglessness of this species - it is not a snake, but rather a member a family of a group of lizards which independantly lost their tails.  They are secretive and live much of their lives hiding beneath rocks and logs.  Primarily feeding on invertibrates like slugs and worms, and have unusually smooth scales for a lizard to enable their serpentine locomotion.  They are among the most long lived animal species in the UK, with a captive specimen known to have lived for at least 54 years.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Anguidae
Genus: Anguis
SUBSPECIES: A. f. fragilis, A. f. colchicus 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An widespread but secretive resident.

 - Seen at Trevose Head  in July 2019. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

OTHER NAMES: Viviparous Lizard
Latin Etymology: Zootoca (?) vivipara ("live bearing")

Adult female Common Lizard (subspecies Z. v. pannonica) at Fermyn Woods, Northants - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: Zootoca vivipara pannonica
Weight: 5g  /  Length: 13-20cm
STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The common lizard is the most common of all Britain's reptiles and in most places, by far the easiest to find. They are fairly small, with most individuals reaching no more than 15cm although adult males do occasionally reach 20cm. As with most reptiles they are cold blooded and therefore can most easily be found basking on exposed places to warm up in the sunlight - these locations will vary significantly with the habitat.  I've seen them basking on rocks, on top or gorse and heather, on fallen trees and even on man made surfaces like wooden boardways over wet ground.  They come in a slight range of colours, but generally brown and cream as in the image. It is also notably the most northerly living of all reptiles in the world and as such it's adaptations include the ability to give birth to live young. 

Related Species: 
Order: Squamata 
Family: Lacertidae 
Genus: Zootoca
SUBSPECIES: Z. v. louislantzi, Z.v. pannoncica, Z.v. sachalinensis, Z. v. vivipara, Z. v. carniolica - 

Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - Locally abundant common resident
 - Lizards seen at sites including Rainham Marshes, Fermyn Woods, Geddington and Trevose Head.

Further Notes: BirdGuides, IUCN Red List. RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta)

OTHER NAMES: Red-eared Terrapin, Yellow-bellied Slider Turtle, Common Slider
Latin Etymology: Trachemys ("roughness turtle") scripta ("writing")

Adult Pond Slider (subspecies T. s. elegans) at Camley Street Natural Park, London - September 2010

Featured Subspecies: Trachemys scripta elegans
Weight: 240g  /  Length: 15-40cm
STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Pond Slider is the most ubiquitous introduced reptile in the UK, found in many urban park ponds - though usually known in the UK as the Red-eared Terrapin. Originally a native of America, it became a popular pet in the early 90s after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were popular, but many specimens got released into ponds when people grew bored with them.  Subsequently, they have become established in the UK from. Although other turtles and terrapins may occasionally be present, these are by far the most common you'll encounter. They are usually found in parks as opposed to more wild places in my experience.

Related Species:
Order: Testudines
Family: Emydidae 
Genus: Trachemys 
Subspecies: T. s. scripta, T. s. elegans, T. s. trostii

Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - Fairly common introduced species
 - Seen at a few locations including Camley Street Natural Park and East Carlton Park

SINGAPORE - A feral species

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Several in the river at Bishan Park 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto 
.

Barred Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica)

OTHER NAMES: Grass Snake, Common Snake, Green Snake, Water Snake, Ringed Snake

Latin Etymology: Natrix ("water snake") helvetica ("of Switzerland")

Adult Barred Grass Snake (subspecies N. n. helvetica) at Summer Leys, Northants - April 2024

Featured Subspecies: Natrix helvetica helvetica

Weight: 240g  /  Length: 100cm
NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The largest land based reptile in the UK, grass snakes are also by far the commonest of the UKs three native snake species  - it isn't technically particularly rare but seeing even this most common of snakes is a rare and unusual occurrence, which in most places isn't at all reliable.  It is not venomous, and mainly eats frogs and toads - and is also known as the water snake for it's propensity for swimming - often catching tadpoles. It may occasionally, as in this case, enter gardens and even hibernate or breed in people's compost heaps.

Related Species: 
Order: Colubridae
Family: Natricinae
Genus: Natrix
SUBSPECIES: N. n. natrix, N. n. cetti, N. n. corsa, N. n. helvetica, N. n. lanzai

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A reasonably common resident though difficult to see.

- Seen a few times around Geddington and Brigstock

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List. RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto  .