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Quiz about Adders and other UK Snakes
Quiz about Adders and other UK Snakes

Adders and other UK Snakes Trivia Quiz


This is a quiz on the types of snake that can be found in the wild in the UK.

A multiple-choice quiz by The_Cyclist. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
The_Cyclist
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
383,816
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
412
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 146 (0/10), Guest 144 (7/10), Guest 173 (7/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Lets start with the adder. The adder can be identified by the pattern on its back. What shape is this pattern usually described as? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The adder is the only venomous snake found in the wild in the UK.


Question 3 of 10
3. Adders in the UK are said to be 'diurnal' meaning they are most active when? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Now we'll move on to the smooth snake. In which part of Britain are you most likely to encounter a smooth snake? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. What colour heads do baby smooth snakes have when they are born? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Next up it's the Eurasian grass snake. A grass snake's diet is primarily made up of which type of creatures? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The main defensive mechanism of the grass snake is to produce a liquid that smells strongly of what? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In the early twenty-first century, there are two known wild populations of Aesculapian snake in the UK. One can be found in North Wales and the second can be found in and near to which London park? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Although often mistaken for a snake the slow-worm is actually what type of creature? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. In which part of the UK would you not find any snakes in the wild? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 01 2024 : Guest 146: 0/10
Sep 23 2024 : Guest 144: 7/10
Sep 10 2024 : Guest 173: 7/10
Sep 08 2024 : 1995Tarpon: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Lets start with the adder. The adder can be identified by the pattern on its back. What shape is this pattern usually described as?

Answer: Zig-zag

The zig-zag marking is the most commonly cited means of identifying an adder. As well as the zig-zag marking the snakes also have a distinctive V shaped marking on their heads. Male adders are lighter in colour than females and are usually white or light grey in colour with black markings while females are usually a darker brown shade but still have black markings.
2. The adder is the only venomous snake found in the wild in the UK.

Answer: True

The adder is a venomous snake and is the only venomous snake native to the UK. Although they are venomous they are not usually aggressive and only attack if threatened such as by being stepped on or caught. Adder bites are rarely fatal to humans but the effects of their bite can be quite nasty so people who are bitten need to seek medical attention quickly.
3. Adders in the UK are said to be 'diurnal' meaning they are most active when?

Answer: During the day

Diurnal creatures are those which are most active during daylight hours. In the UK the adder is diurnal whereas those found in more southerly countries are more active in the evening. Adders hibernate during winter and in the UK the snakes hibernate for around 150 to 180 days each year.
4. Now we'll move on to the smooth snake. In which part of Britain are you most likely to encounter a smooth snake?

Answer: Southern England

The smooth snake can be found throughout Europe and in parts of Asia. In the UK however it can only be found in the counties of Dorset, Hampshire and West Surrey, all located in southern England. The smooth snake is one of the UK's native snakes.
5. What colour heads do baby smooth snakes have when they are born?

Answer: Black

A smooth snake can have up to 15 babies at one time. The young are ususally between 14-16cm at the time of birth. They have completely black heads unlike adult smooth snakes which have dark grey or dark red heads depending on if they are female or male.
6. Next up it's the Eurasian grass snake. A grass snake's diet is primarily made up of which type of creatures?

Answer: Amphibians

The grass snake is native to the UK and is mainly found in England and Wales. Grass snakes can swim and usually live near to water. Their main prey in the UK is the common toad and the common frog both of which are amphibians although they can eat other creatures, including ants and earthworms, should there be a scarcity of their preferred food.

This is unlike the rough green snake and the smooth green snake which are often referred to as grass snakes in the US which do mainly eat insects.
7. The main defensive mechanism of the grass snake is to produce a liquid that smells strongly of what?

Answer: Garlic

The grass snake is not venomous so it needs other ways to ward off predators. The main way it protects itself is to release a liquid from its anal glands that smells strongly of garlic to put other creatures off eating it. It can also go completely limp and, as such, play dead.
8. In the early twenty-first century, there are two known wild populations of Aesculapian snake in the UK. One can be found in North Wales and the second can be found in and near to which London park?

Answer: Regents Park

The Aesculapian snake is not native to the UK but there are two known wild populations started by escaped snakes. The first is in Conwy, North Wales near to the Welsh Mountain Zoo. The zoo imported aesculapian snakes from Italy in the 1960s and it is believed some escaped and started living and breeding in the local area.

A second population of aesculapian snakes was discovered in and around Regents Park in London. Although London Zoo is located nearby the zoo are unsure where the snakes originally escaped from.
9. Although often mistaken for a snake the slow-worm is actually what type of creature?

Answer: Lizard

Although its appearance does resemble a snake the slow-worm is actually a legless lizard. It is classified as such because it has eyelids, which snakes do not, and it can shed its tail to help escape from attacks. The slow-worm also sheds its skin in patches unlike snakes which shed their entire skin in one go. Slow-worms are burrowing lizards which feed on slugs and worms.
10. In which part of the UK would you not find any snakes in the wild?

Answer: Northern Ireland

There are no native wild snake populations on the island of Ireland (of which Northern Ireland is part). Although legend says that this is because St Patrick drove out the snakes the actual answer is that when snakes evolved Ireland was underwater so no snakes could evolve there. Eventually the waters receded and Ireland ceased to be submerged.

However, even though Ireland has been attached to other land masses during its geological history any snakes that tried to colonise it would have died during the ice age as cold blooded animals would not have been able to survive in the cold temperatures.
Source: Author The_Cyclist

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rossian before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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