No new snake species has appeared in Britain. A 2026 study describes specialized rear fangs in the native smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) and connects them 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, while the NHS still advises urgent medical attention after any suspected snakebite.
Is there a new venomous snake in Britain?
No. The headlines concern the smooth snake, a species already native to Britain—not a newly discovered species or a snake newly arriving in the countryside. The 2026 paper proposes a reclassification based on its teeth and venom system.
The distinction matters: describing an animal as venomous can refer to its biological apparatus or secretion. That fact alone does not establish that its bite poses a meaningful danger to people.
What did the 2026 study find?
In a peer-reviewed paper in Zootaxa, Alessandro Paterna and Grégoire Meier reported modified rear fangs in the smooth snake. Their anatomical study describes two specialized fangs at the back of the upper jaw, separated from neighboring teeth by gaps. Sheaths cover the fangs and connect with the venom, or Duvernoy’s, gland. The authors describe the gland as predominantly serous and say its secretion can have significant effects on prey and other animals. Read the paper in Zootaxa.
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This is a new description of the snake’s rear teeth and their relationship to its venom system—not a discovery of a previously unknown gland. Bangor University zoologist Wolfgang Wüster notes that the smooth snake’s venom gland has been known for more than a century. He puts the terminology in perspective: “Venomousness in snakes isn’t a switch that’s simply on or off. It’s a spectrum, running from no venom apparatus at all through to the fully developed fangs of a viper.” Read Wüster’s explanation.
Is the smooth snake dangerous to people?
Wüster’s conclusion is that the smooth snake is harmless to humans. The study describes anatomical features and secretion effects; it does not report a new human hazard. The available sources do not provide a quantified estimate of bite risk, so there is no basis here for assigning a numerical probability.
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That reassurance is not a reason to approach or handle a snake. NHS guidance is directed at clinical safety: it identifies the adder as the UK’s only venomous snake on its snakebite page and says to get medical help immediately after any suspected snakebite. The NHS guidance and the paper address different questions—clinical risk and anatomical venom apparatus respectively—so they should not be treated as competing claims. See NHS snakebite guidance.
How to tell Britain’s snakes apart from a safe distance
The NHS describes three kinds of snake found in the wild in the UK. Colour and markings can help, but they are not a reason to approach an animal for a closer look.
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| Snake | General appearance described by the NHS | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Adder | Grey or reddish-brown, with a dark zigzag stripe down the back. | The NHS identifies the adder as the UK’s only venomous snake on its snakebite page. Keep well away. |
| 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 try to 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. | It is the species at the centre of the 2026 anatomical study. Do not approach or handle it. |
Descriptions are general, not a guarantee of identification. If you are unsure what you have seen, leave it alone and give it space.
What should you do after a suspected snakebite?
Follow the NHS advice even if you do not know which snake was involved. Its snakebite page was last reviewed on July 17, 2026.
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- 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, catch or kill it.
- Do not 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?
The smooth snake is described by Wüster as Britain’s rarest snake, restricted to lowland heaths in southern England. The setting is a conservation issue, not an invitation to seek out the animal.
In England, Natural England’s standing advice identifies smooth snakes as European protected species under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. Listed offences include deliberately killing, injuring, disturbing or capturing them, taking or destroying eggs, and damaging breeding sites or resting places. The guidance also notes protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This is England-specific guidance, not a complete account of wildlife law in every UK jurisdiction. Read Natural England’s protected-species planning guidance.
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