Protected and endangered
An endangered species can be protected by law. Individuals of a protected species may not be caught, taken, collected, killed or harmed in any other way. It is also forbidden to collect or damage the nests, eggs or roe of a protected species. These protections were introduced back in the early 1900s. In Sweden, about 600 species are protected! This includes all species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and orchids, but also many other species. If you want to know more about endangered species, check out the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s website!
An endangered species is one that is clearly declining in numbers. This is almost always because of us humans. We create changes that destroy many species, through agriculture, hunting, fishing, buildings, roads, and other things that change the climate and the environment. Species that are endangered are divided into different categories on something called the Red List, depending on how threatened they are.
The Agile frog is one of Sweden's 13 species of amphibians.
Photo: D4r4mu5-CC-BY-SA
The Smooth newt is protected, like all other amphibians in Sweden.
Photo: gailhampshire-CC-BY
The European green toad is both protected and endangered in Sweden.
Photo: Frank-Vassen-CC-BY
Protected amphibians
Frogs, newts and toads are collectively known as amphibians. 13 species of amphibians live in Sweden, and all of them are protected. There are two species of newt, the smooth and the great crested newt. The adult smooth newt lives both on land and in water, preferably in shallow puddles. So does the adult great crested newt, but less commonly than the smooth.
The most endangered species is the European green toad. In many places in southern Sweden, green toads have been successfully bred and released into the wild to help the species recover.
The adder is Sweden's only venomous snake, and it is protected like all other reptiles in the country.
Photo: Anders-Zimny
The grass snake is easily recognizable by the two bright spots behind the eyes. It is totally harmless, and a good swimmer.
Photo: Andreas-Eichler-CC-BY-SA
The smooth snake is Sweden's rarest snake.
The slow worm looks like a snake, because it has no legs. But it is niether a snake nor a worm, but a lizard! It is protected, like all other reptiles in Sweden.
Photo: Holger-Krisp-CC-BY
The common lizard is a small lizard, which lives throughout Sweden. It can become around 18 cm long from the nose to the tip of its tail.
Photo: JoaSun-CC-BY-SA
Swedish snakes and lizards
The group of animals known as reptiles includes snakes and lizards. Three species of lizards live in Sweden. The common lizard is found quite widely throughout the country. The sand lizard is an endangered species, and lives from Skåne up to Dalarna. The slow worm is a legless lizard that is often mistaken for a snake. It can be found throughout the country.
There are also three Swedish species of snake! The grass snake is a good swimmer and is not poisonous. The adder is Sweden’s only venomous snake. If an adder moves onto the site of a house or a similar place, it may be moved. But it should be done without injuring it! The smooth snake is Sweden’s most endangered snake. It is rare, and completely harmless.