Slow Worm Anguis fragilis

The smooth and shiny, snake-like body of the slow worm is fairly distinct and differs from other British snakes as it has a body which does not taper at the neck.

Conservation status in Norfolk

Like other British reptiles, the slow worm has declined. Habitat loss has played a major part. Slow worms are being squeezed out of their natural habitat because of human development. Persecution by humans is another factor that faces the slow worms. Being mistaken for a snake may mean they are killed, even though it is a criminal offence to kill or injure any native British reptile.

Click to see the Biodiversity Action Plan Species for this species

How to help

Create a wild area in your garden, with log piles, rocks and pieces of corrugated iron. These sites are attractive to slow worms as daytime resting places and for hibernation. Build a compost heap as this will provide the slow worm with plenty of food and the heat generated from the compost will keep it warm.

Adopt me today and help ensure my future!

Slow worm, David Gittens

Slow worm, Bob Carpenter

Slow Worm at NWT Roydon Common, Karl Charters

Information on the Slow Worm

How to recognise

With a smooth and shiny snake-like body, the slow worm is quite distinctive. A slow worm is actually a legless lizard and differs from British snakes in having a cylindrical body which does not taper in at the neck. The males vary in colour from grey to bronze with a pale underside. The females are usually browner than the males, with darker sides, a dark underside and a black stripe running along the back. Some slow worms have blue spots. The presence of blue spots is more common in males.

Where to see

As a slow worm is a reptile it is dependant on the surrounding temperature to control its body heat. It will therefore choose areas that are warm and humid. Dry grassy meadows, compost heaps in gardens, woodland margins and churchyards are all suitable habitats for the slow worm. Of all the British reptiles the slow worm is the one most likely to be found in gardens, but because of its shy nature its presence often goes undetected. Unlike other reptiles found in Britain the slow worm chooses to hunt at dusk or after rainfall, feeding on slow moving prey such as slugs, snails and earthworms which suit its slow-moving lifestyle.

When to see

March to October. Slow worms emerge from hibernation in late February into early March. During late April, May and June slow worms begin to mate. However, the egg will not become fertilised until June when it passes down the oviduct. Males fight over females, with the female pairing with several different males during the breeding season. During the summer, females may be seen basking in the sun to help the development of their pregnancy. After a 3-5 month gestation period between 6 and 12 young are born in transparent sacks which they will break immediately after birth. During October, as colder weather begins to set in, slow worms look to hibernate under piles of leaves, amongst tree roots or in crevices.

Did you know?

Another traditional name for the slow worm was blind worm.
When attacked by a predator slow worms, like other lizards, will discard their tails hoping to escape while the predator is distracted by the still wriggling tail.

Finding out more

The Herpetological Conservation Trust
http://www.herpconstrust.org.uk/index.php
Froglife
www.froglife.org

Related questions

How can I attract reptiles to my garden?

Of the four species of reptile occurring in Norfolk only two,the grass snake and slow worm are likely visitors to your garden.

The other two species, the adder and common lizard, are creatures of more open and undisturbed habitat such as heathland and only rarely visit gardens. Even then it is likely that the garden in question adjoins an area of suitable countryside.

If you wish to attract slow worms or grass snakes you will need to keep some areas of your garden undisturbed and uncultivated. Unkempt areas of long grass, wild areas of scrub and hedgerow with plenty of undergrowth and other nooks and crannies, such as provided by log piles, would be ideal. A compost heap is particularly useful since both slow worms and grass snakes will inhabit these either to feed on the abundant slugs and worms or to lay their eggs. A garden pond is also of great value to grass snakes because it provides ideal habitat for them to hunt frogs and newts.

If you are lucky enough to see any reptiles in your garden you should report sightings to the National Amphibian and Reptile Records Scheme (NARRS) so that distribution and population trends can be monitored.

What is the difference between an adder a grass snake and a slow worm?

THE ADDER

The adder is found on heathland, dry commons and in sunny clearings in woodland. The basic colour is variable, ranging from off white through to brown, but whatever the colour the distinguishing feature is the wide, dark zigzag stripe running along the back. This stripe is usually flanked by a row of spots running along each side.

The adder has a distinct "V" or "X" shaped marking on the head and the eye has a pupil with a vertical slit. Adders appear quite chunky and males can reach a length of up to 60cm, females up to 75cm.

GRASS SNAKE

Grass snakes are usually found in wetland habitats. The basic colour is olive green and there is a distinct yellowish/off-white and black collar around the neck. There are dark side markings along the whole length of the snake.

The grass snake has an eye with a round pupil. The grass snake has a quite slim appearance and is the largest indigenous UK reptile. Males can reach a length of up to 100cm and females up to 130cm.

SLOW WORM

Slow worms are very secretive creatures but can be found in a variety of habitats including gardens.

The slow worm has a colour which varies from light or dark brown through to brick red but they are far less well marked than the adder or the grass snake.

Males and females show marked differences when fully grown. Females very often have a thin dark stripe running along the length of the back and the flanks are speckled and striped with dark brown or black. Adult males are more uniform in colour and occasionally have very distinct blue spots. Length of both sexes is between 40 - 45cm.

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