Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone - is anyone out there working with European Natrix, particularly Natrix natrix helvetica? I used to live in the Uk and kept a grass snake for a short while about twenty years ago. Would be great to have a specimen again after all this time.

Thanks, Ryan

Is N. n. helvetica the subspecies from England? I know that there were a few grass snake specimens (I think all male) available a few years ago from Ohio, but I don't know what subspecies.

I'm also interested in grass snakes, unfortunately, I think they're protected in their natural ranges (EU environmental laws) so if they aren't already kept as a viable captive breeding population in the US, I don't know if we can legally get more. (Correct me if I'm wrong on this - 'cause I hope I am wrong!)

I'd be real interested to see if people are working with these!

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Lisa
Living Earth Environmental Education
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Hi Lisa - yes, I believe N. n. helvetica is the British form. They are now protected in the UK and no longer exported.

I would think that are a few in the US, but could be wrong. Quite a nice looking snake really
Regards, Ryan

The British subspecies is indeed "helvetica".
They are protected:
Status: Protected in the UK by Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
Listed under Appendix III of the Berne Convention

I take care of one in the reptilezoo where I work. In the Netherlands they are protected too.
Care is the same as for Thamnophis.
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Dutch Thamnophis website

>>The British subspecies is indeed "helvetica".
>>They are protected:
>>Status: Protected in the UK by Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
>>Listed under Appendix III of the Berne Convention
>>
>>I take care of one in the reptilezoo where I work. In the Netherlands they are protected too.
>>Care is the same as for Thamnophis.
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>>Dutch Thamnophis website

That's cool... I really do hope that private individuals in the US are keeping and breeding British grass snakes... I'd be interested in getting some....
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Lisa
Living Earth Environmental Education
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>>Is N. n. helvetica the subspecies from England?

Not just Britain, that subspecies lives in western and central Europe, while N. n. natrix is the subspecies found in eastern and and northern Europe.
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0.1 Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.2 Thamnophis elegans vagrans
0.1 Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia
0.0.2 Natrix maura