Colour: Grey or grey-brown with dark brown markings alongs its back. There is also a special butterfly wing-shaped marking on the top of the head.
Diet: Small mammals, pygmy shrews, young birds and reptiles - smooth snakes really like to eat slow-worms.
Distribution: Parts of Surrey, Dorset and southwest Hampshire.
Where to look: Heathland.
Notes: Smooth snakes are very rare and protected by law. It is believed that there are only a few thousand left in the wild. If you live in one of the areas mentioned above, you can help with the conservation of the smooth snake by calling The Herpetological Conservation Trust on 01202 391319 if you find one.
