Slow-Worm

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Slow-Worm 7

Adult Slow-Worm in the hand (Natalie Pretsell)

Slow Worm 6

Juvenile Slow-Worm (Jules Howard)

Slow Worm 5

Slow-Worm (Jules Howard)

Slow Worm 4

Juvenile Slow-Worm (Jules Howard)

Slow worm 3

Group of Slow-Worms (Jules Howard)

Slow-worm 2

Female Slow-Worm (Jules Howard)

Slow-worm 1

Male Slow-Worm with blue markings (Silviu Petrovan)

Slow-Worm (Anguis fragilis)

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.

A year in the life…Spring

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.

Summer

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.

Autumn

Slow-worms spend autumn preparing for hibernation.  Adults usually feed on slow moving prey like slugs.

Winter

Slow-worms usually hibernate between November and March.

Studies and Actions from Conservation Evidence

The information below is from the Conservation Evidence website.

Studies and Actions from Conservation Evidence in detail