Historical Sand Lizard Records
Following the recent sand lizard reintroduction, I
have agreed to write a short article on the historical evidence for sand lizards
(and possibly natterjacks) in Kent for the Kent Field Club. Some preliminary
information is now available.
There were five sand lizard records on the county
database. These were:
1. Herne Bay (near), 1950, Frazer.
2. Sandwich, 1960, Frazer.
3 & 4. Folkestone Warren, 1967, Anon.
5. Folkestone, 1969, Corbett.
I have been examining these records to try and determine their authenticity and some interesting facts have come to light. The following account is based on information supplied by several people to whom I would like to express my thanks. In particular I would like to thank Henry Arnold, Keith Corbett, Roger Frost, Leigh Gillett, Chris Gleed-Owen, Colin McCarthy and Anne Riddell.
1. Herne Bay (near), 1950, Deryk Frazer.
It would appear that Frazer submitted this record based on the distribution map in Malcolm Smith's 1951 New Naturalist book The British Amphibians and Reptiles. There is no evidence that Frazer ever actually saw a sand lizard near Herne Bay. In fact Smith's map should have shown sand lizard being recorded from near Whitstable - not Herne Bay. Smith actually mentions sand lizard being present at 'Whitstable' in his 1949 British Reptiles and Amphibia (King Penguin). Apparently, Taylor examined a sand lizard specimen held at the British Museum (now Natural History Museum) and gave a date of 1946. Could this have been the 'green lizard' specimen that Cooke claimed had been sent to Bell? I recently contacted the reptile curator at the museum and Dr. McCarthy has now helped me to completely resolve the situation (I think!). A Kent sand lizard specimen is held at the museum. It was presented to the museum by James Ranger in 1946. The locality? Seasalter, Whitstable! This must be the specimen that Taylor examined and Smith illustrated in his 1951 distribution map. Anne Riddell has told me that this specimen is mentioned in at least one edition of Smith's The British Amphibians and Reptiles. However, I am unable to track this down (it doesn't appear to be in the 1951 first edition or the revised 1954 edition). It would appear that Frazer probably misinterpreted Smith's map and put the record nearly 10 km to the east at Herne Bay. Interestingly, Leigh Gillett has been telling me that there used to be sand lizard at Seasalter for several years now. I should have listened to Leigh a little better...!
2. Sandwich, 1960, Deryk Frazer.
Apparently this is another case of Frazer submitting a record without actually seeing the animal for himself. The sand lizard was described to Frazer by M. Knight. I often have folk telling me they have seen sand lizards in various unlikely places. Since Frazer did not actually see the specimen for himself the record was not validated and the (recent) historical presence of sand lizard at Sandwich is now far less certain. What is puzzling is that Frazer makes no mention of Kentish sand lizard in his own 1983 New Naturalist book Reptiles and Amphibians in Britain. Since Frazer actually lived in Kent, you would think that if he had seen them in the county, he would have mentioned it in his own book! Still, available sand dune habitat at Sandwich would appear to offer good potential for sand lizards. Notwithstanding the recent release of juvenile sand lizards, a full survey of the area is certainly warranted.
3 & 4. Folkestone Warren, 1967, Anon.
There are actually two records held on the database. However, they are probably both based on the same observation and should therefore be a single record. The recording card actually states 'The Landslip'. This could really mean almost anywhere at the Warren, since the whole area is one large landslip. Keith Corbett has suggested that this record originated from John Pickett at the British Herpetological Society. I have to do some more research into this. People are divided on the suitability of the Warren for sand lizards. Scrub encroachment and the mainly clay and chalk deposits provide few egg-laying sites for the species. However, there are sandy deposits over the chalk that are worth investigating next season.
5. Folkestone (actually Sandgate), 1969, Keith Corbett.
This (and the Seasalter specimen) represent the only properly validated records for the county. Keith has recently provided me with a complete description of the encounter. The record is based on an observation of an immature sand lizard in long grass along a footpath. I have recently visited the site in question (no I'm not saying where!) to evaluate the habitat. There is certainly exposed sand, but also heavy scrub encroachment and disturbance from local children. Still, it's certainly worth pursuing next season.
If you have any further insights into the fascinating story of Kent's sand lizards please don't hesitate to let me know!
1. Herne Bay (near), 1950, Frazer.
2. Sandwich, 1960, Frazer.
3 & 4. Folkestone Warren, 1967, Anon.
5. Folkestone, 1969, Corbett.
I have been examining these records to try and determine their authenticity and some interesting facts have come to light. The following account is based on information supplied by several people to whom I would like to express my thanks. In particular I would like to thank Henry Arnold, Keith Corbett, Roger Frost, Leigh Gillett, Chris Gleed-Owen, Colin McCarthy and Anne Riddell.
1. Herne Bay (near), 1950, Deryk Frazer.
It would appear that Frazer submitted this record based on the distribution map in Malcolm Smith's 1951 New Naturalist book The British Amphibians and Reptiles. There is no evidence that Frazer ever actually saw a sand lizard near Herne Bay. In fact Smith's map should have shown sand lizard being recorded from near Whitstable - not Herne Bay. Smith actually mentions sand lizard being present at 'Whitstable' in his 1949 British Reptiles and Amphibia (King Penguin). Apparently, Taylor examined a sand lizard specimen held at the British Museum (now Natural History Museum) and gave a date of 1946. Could this have been the 'green lizard' specimen that Cooke claimed had been sent to Bell? I recently contacted the reptile curator at the museum and Dr. McCarthy has now helped me to completely resolve the situation (I think!). A Kent sand lizard specimen is held at the museum. It was presented to the museum by James Ranger in 1946. The locality? Seasalter, Whitstable! This must be the specimen that Taylor examined and Smith illustrated in his 1951 distribution map. Anne Riddell has told me that this specimen is mentioned in at least one edition of Smith's The British Amphibians and Reptiles. However, I am unable to track this down (it doesn't appear to be in the 1951 first edition or the revised 1954 edition). It would appear that Frazer probably misinterpreted Smith's map and put the record nearly 10 km to the east at Herne Bay. Interestingly, Leigh Gillett has been telling me that there used to be sand lizard at Seasalter for several years now. I should have listened to Leigh a little better...!
2. Sandwich, 1960, Deryk Frazer.
Apparently this is another case of Frazer submitting a record without actually seeing the animal for himself. The sand lizard was described to Frazer by M. Knight. I often have folk telling me they have seen sand lizards in various unlikely places. Since Frazer did not actually see the specimen for himself the record was not validated and the (recent) historical presence of sand lizard at Sandwich is now far less certain. What is puzzling is that Frazer makes no mention of Kentish sand lizard in his own 1983 New Naturalist book Reptiles and Amphibians in Britain. Since Frazer actually lived in Kent, you would think that if he had seen them in the county, he would have mentioned it in his own book! Still, available sand dune habitat at Sandwich would appear to offer good potential for sand lizards. Notwithstanding the recent release of juvenile sand lizards, a full survey of the area is certainly warranted.
3 & 4. Folkestone Warren, 1967, Anon.
There are actually two records held on the database. However, they are probably both based on the same observation and should therefore be a single record. The recording card actually states 'The Landslip'. This could really mean almost anywhere at the Warren, since the whole area is one large landslip. Keith Corbett has suggested that this record originated from John Pickett at the British Herpetological Society. I have to do some more research into this. People are divided on the suitability of the Warren for sand lizards. Scrub encroachment and the mainly clay and chalk deposits provide few egg-laying sites for the species. However, there are sandy deposits over the chalk that are worth investigating next season.
5. Folkestone (actually Sandgate), 1969, Keith Corbett.
This (and the Seasalter specimen) represent the only properly validated records for the county. Keith has recently provided me with a complete description of the encounter. The record is based on an observation of an immature sand lizard in long grass along a footpath. I have recently visited the site in question (no I'm not saying where!) to evaluate the habitat. There is certainly exposed sand, but also heavy scrub encroachment and disturbance from local children. Still, it's certainly worth pursuing next season.
If you have any further insights into the fascinating story of Kent's sand lizards please don't hesitate to let me know!
Posted: Thu - October 14, 2004 at 05:55 pm
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Published On: Oct 01, 2007 10:54 am
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Published On: Oct 01, 2007 10:54 am