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| Fact File |
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- Slow-worms can be 4 - 45cm long.
- Males are grey-brown, females are
golden brown on top and darker underneath and on the
sides; they have a shiny appearance.
- Females and juveniles usually
have a dark stripe down the back; males sometimes
have blue flecks.
- They're widespread and common but are thought to
be declining.
- Slow-worms are protected by law from deliberate
killing, injury and trade/sale.
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Photos by Jules Howard/Froglife (left) and Laura
Brady/Froglife (right) |
Slow-worms are a type of legless lizard and are often mistaken
for snakes. Unlike snakes they can blink, have a flat forked
tongue and can drop their tails if attacked. Slow-worms are
widespread throughout Britain but are absent from Ireland.
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Adults emerge from their hibernation sites in spring;
breeding takes place during April and May. Slow-worms do
not tend to bask out in the open like other reptiles,
instead preferring to hide under objects that will be
warmed by the sun or will create their own warmth such
as compost heaps or dead wood. |
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Female slow-worms incubate their eggs internally and
‘give birth’ to live young in late summer. The gold or
silver juveniles are very thin and only around 4cm long. |
| Slow-worms spend autumn preparing for hibernation.
Adults usually feed on slow moving prey like slugs. |
| Slow-worms usually hibernate between November and March. |
Degradation and loss of habitats.
Frequently asked questions about
lizards.
Check out our
slow-worm gallery on Facebook.
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