Pleistocene

Fossil reptiles from the British Pleistocene are presently known from interglacial sediments of Cromerian, Hoxnian, Ipswichian and Holocene age at a wide variety of localities, owing mainly to the result of a recent programme of research carried out by J.A. Holman in collaboration with A.J. Stuart and other workers during the 1980s and 1990s. The reptiles form part of herpetofaunas which are of value as reliable indicators of Pleistocene climates and environments. The finds also provide a valuable contribution to knowledge on the diversity and spread of reptiles through Pleistocene time, and demonstrate a link with climatic fluctuation. The localities are listed by county, and include only those that have produced reptiles (amphibian-only sites are not listed).

DEVON: Cow Cave, Chudleigh ([SX 86 79]; Anguis fragilis); Happaway Cave, Torquay (Flandrian; Natrix natrix; Holman, 1987).

SOMERSET: Westbury-sub-Mendip (Cromerian; ?zone Cr IV; ; Emys orbicularis, Coronella austriaca, Natrix natrix, Vipera berus; Stuart, 1979; Holman, 1993).

SUSSEX: Selsey (Ipswichian; zones Ip Ib–IIb; Emys orbicularis; Stuart, 1979); Amey's Eartham Pit, Boxgrove (unnamed interglacial between Cromerian and Anglian; [SU 920 085]; Anguis fragilis, Lacerta cf. L. vivipara, Natrix natrix, Natrix sp.; Holman, 1993).

KENT: Dierden's Pit, Ingress Vale, Swanscombe (Hoxnian; ?zone Ho III; [TQ 60 74]; Emys orbicularis, Natrix natrix; Stuart, 1979; Holman, 1987); Ightham Fissure, near Ightham (Devensian–Holocene; [TQ 59 56]; Anguis fragilis, Natrix natrix, Vipera berus, Coronella austriaca; Newton, 1894a; Holman, 1985).

SUFFOLK: Bobbitshole, Ipswich (Ipswichian; zones Ip Ia–IIa; Emys orbicularis; Stuart, 1979); Stoke Tunnel, Ipswich, Suffolk (Ipswichian; Stoke Tunnel 'Bone Bed', ?zone Ip IV; Emys orbicularis; Stuart, 1979); Harkstead (Ipswichian, ?zones Ip III–IV); Emys orbicularis; Stuart, 1979).

ESSEX: Cudmore Grove, East Mersea, Mersea Island (Hoxnian, Substage Ho HIb, channel fill; [TM 068 146]; Emys orbicularis, Anguis fragilis, Lacerta vivipara, Lacerta sp., Elaphe longissima, Natrix maura or N. tessellata, Natrix natrix, Natrix sp. indet., Vipera berus; Bridgland, 1987, p. 329; Holman et al., 1990); Little Oakley (Cromerian Stage; Little Oakley Silts and Sands; [TM 223 294]; Emys orbicularis; Bridgland, 1987, p. 321).

NORFOLK: Mundesley (Ipswichian; 'Forest Bed'; ?= Mundesley Sands, zones Ip Ib–IIb; [TG 31 36]; Emys orbicularis, Emys lutaria, Tropidonotus natrix; Newton, 1862, 1879, 1882a; Woodward, 1880; Stuart, 1979); West Runton; Bacton ([TG 18 42]; Tropidonotus natrix, Vipera berus, Anguis fragilis; Upper Freshwater Bed, Cromerian, W. Runton; Natrix natrix, N vipera; Newton, 1882a, 1882b; Holman, 1993); Itteringham Gravel Pit (from Ipswichian interglacial bed; [TG 139 305]; Emys orbicularis, Natrix natrix; Hallock et al., 1990); East Wretham (Holocene; zone II (=VIIa, Atlantic); 'Emys lutaria', Emys orbicularis; Newton, 1862; Woodward, 1880, Stuart; 1979); Swanton Morley (Ipswichian; zone Ip Ha; Emys orbicularis; Stuart, 1979).

LANCASHIRE: Dog Holes, Warton (Flandrian; [SD 41 28]; Anguis fragilis, ?Vipera, Natrix natrix; Holman, 1987).

None of these sites could be selected as having a greater or lesser claim to be selected as a candidate GCR site to represent British Pleistocene reptiles. Indeed, several have been entirely worked out, and new ones are found when suitable sites are excavated.

References