REPTILE and amphibian sightings in Oxfordshire are being sought for a new county atlas.
Oxfordshire Amphibian and Reptile Group (OxARG) wants to produce the new herpetological guide.
It will be the first published since Oxfordshire Biological Records Centre published Atlas for Reptiles and Amphibians by J Coldrey and JM Campbell in 1983.
Rod D’Ayala of OxARG said: “Reptiles and amphibians are generally under-recorded. We know some species are still common and widespread, like the common frog, while others are genuinely rare, like the adder.
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“Probably all species are not as common as they used to be, and in this respect reptiles and amphibians are no different from many other species in the county.
“It has always been the intention of OxARG to update information, and 31 years after the first atlas it is time for a second.”
He said all sightings of creatures would be useful, whether from nature reserves or gardens.
He added: “For sites where we have records we would welcome updates to confirm that species are still present or are no longer present. Negative records are just as valuable as positive records.”
Sightings can be sent to Rod D’Ayala, New Herp Atlas, 70 Newlands Avenue, Didcot, OX11 8QB or emailed to tverc@oxfordshire.gov.uk
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