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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteNo new snake species has appeared in Britain. A 2026 study described specialized rear fangs in the native smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), connected to a venom gland that was already known. The finding adds anatomical detail; it does not establish a new danger to people. Zoologist Wolfgang Wüster says smooth snakes remain harmless to humans, though any suspected snakebite still needs urgent medical attention.
Is there a new venomous snake in Britain?
No. The headline refers to the smooth snake, a species already native to Britain—not a newly discovered species or an animal newly arriving in the countryside. The 2026 paper concerns the structure of its teeth and venom system.
The peer-reviewed study by Alessandro Paterna and Grégoire Meier, published in Zootaxa, describes two specialized rear fangs in the smooth snake. They are set apart from other teeth by gaps and covered by sheaths connected to the venom, or Duvernoy’s, gland. The researchers describe the gland as predominantly serous and its secretion as capable of significant effects on prey and other animals. Read the study in Zootaxa.
This is a newly described feature of the snake’s anatomy, not evidence that a new species or a newly emerging human hazard has been found. The gland itself was known for more than a century, as Bangor University zoology professor Wolfgang Wüster explains in his September 24, 2026 article.
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Is the smooth snake venomous, and can it hurt people?
That depends on what “venomous” means in context. The study describes venom-related anatomy: specialized teeth connected to a gland whose secretion affects animals. That biological finding does not, by itself, show that the snake’s bite presents a meaningful danger to people.
Wüster puts snake venom systems on a spectrum rather than treating venomousness as a simple yes-or-no category. His conclusion is that the smooth snake is harmless to humans. That is not an invitation to approach or handle one: the available sources do not quantify human bite risk, and the NHS advises urgent care for any suspected snakebite.
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The NHS identifies the adder as the UK’s venomous snake in its public-facing guidance, which focuses on snakes posing a clinical risk and what to do after a bite. Its framing is not a rebuttal of the anatomical description in the paper: the two sources are using “venomous” for different purposes. See the NHS snake-bite guidance.
How do smooth snakes differ from adders and grass snakes?
The NHS describes these general patterns for the three snake types found in the wild in the UK. Colour and markings can help distinguish them, but identification from a distance is not certain. Do not approach an animal to inspect it.
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| Snake | General appearance described by the NHS | Reader response |
|---|---|---|
| Adder | Grey or reddish-brown, with a dark zigzag stripe down the back. | Keep your distance. Treat a bite or suspected bite as urgent. |
| Grass snake | Usually green, with dark spots along the sides and yellow-and-black bands around the neck. | Observe only from a safe distance; do not handle it. |
| Smooth snake | Usually grey or brown, with a dark pattern whose back markings are lighter and less zigzag-shaped than an adder’s. | Do not approach or handle it; smooth snakes are protected in England. |
What should you do if a snake bites you?
The NHS says to get medical help immediately after any suspected snakebite, regardless of which snake you think was involved. Call 999 or go to A&E.
- Call 999 or go to A&E immediately.
- While waiting for help, stay calm and keep the bitten part still.
- If it is safe, remember the snake’s colour and pattern or take a photo from a distance. Do not approach it to get a better look.
- Do not catch or kill the snake, cut or suck the bite, tie anything tightly around the affected part, or take aspirin or ibuprofen.
Why should you leave a smooth snake alone?
Smooth snakes are the rarest British snake and are restricted to lowland heaths in southern England, according to Wüster. They are protected by law in England. Natural England’s standing advice for planning applications identifies them as European protected species under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. It lists offences that include deliberately killing, injuring, disturbing or capturing them, taking or destroying eggs, and damaging breeding sites or resting places; it also notes protections under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
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That is England-specific planning guidance, not a complete account of wildlife law across every UK jurisdiction. For a member of the public, the practical point is simple: do not handle, disturb or harm a smooth snake.
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