We must act on scientific evidence, we must act together, and we must act now. Slow-Worm (Anguis fragilis) Slow-worms are a type of legless lizard and are often mistaken for snakes. Woodland Trust (Enterprises) Limited, registered in England (No. Like much of the UK’s wildlife, they are threatened by habitat loss. Want to know how to identify British snakes? If you see a slow worm (Anguis fragilis) in your garden, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a snake. And you can help. Â, We are a charity and we rely on your support. 'It is not clear what determines their lifespan - whether they grow old like we do or just keep going until either disease or predation leads to their death. The lizards are lured by the warmth and invertebrate food that compost heaps offer. Slow worms tend to be most active at dusk. 'It seems that evolution has led to the independent reduction and entire loss of limbs many times. Like snakes, slow worms have scales. They're often found in woodland glades, pastures, heaths, scrubland, gardens, allotments, railway embankments and road verges. Research shows that slow worms use their tongues to sense the presence of ambush predators, flicking their tongues in and out to 'smell', like snakes. Smooth snakes (as shown here) are a similar general colour, but their individual scales look more obvious and their markings are different. Despite their name, slow worms can move quite quickly. A non-profit-making company limited by guarantee. Slow worms are widespread throughout Britain, although they are absent from Ireland. From as little as £2, you can help us to find new ways to protect nature.

They spend the winter hibernating under piles of leaves or within tree roots. But if they can't get away, defecation is the first weapon in their arsenal. They have a smooth, glossy, grey or brown cylindrical body and, unlike snakes, a flat forked tongue, eyelids and a tail which sheds when under attack. Slow worms are ovoviviparous, which means that they lay eggs internally.

Habitat: grassland, woodland edges, gardens, meadows. Registered office: Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6LL. Why do leaves change colour and fall off in autumn. If pooing doesn't work, slow worms use another nifty trick to escape predators: they detach their tail. This is the quickest and easiest way. During mating rituals, an amorous male slow worm bites the back of his chosen female. Anything which retains heat can attract slow worms. Slow worms are ovoviviparous, which means they lay eggs internally but give birth to live young. They are able to tell the difference between the scent of a predator snake and other harmless species. Adders are unlikely to be confused with slow worms due to their distinctive zig-zag markings. The eggs hatch inside the female slow worm’s body, and the young stay there for a while, living off the yolk of the egg.

Their average lifespan in the wild is thought to be 20 to 30 years and one slow worm reportedly survived for at least 54 years in captivity at Copenhagen Zoo. Snakes don't have eyelids. The discarded tail thrashes about for several minutes, distracting their attacker and giving the slow worm the chance to get away. If attacked by a predator, a slow worm can shed its tail to escape, although it never grows back fully. 'They will return the favour. Males become aggressive during this time, competing with each other for a mate. Slow-worms are widespread throughout Britain but are absent from Ireland. Find out how to spot it, what it eats and how it breeds. During the daytime, rather than basking out in the open, they prefer to hide under something that will heat up in the Sun.

This is when they usually hunt for food. They aren't present in Ireland apart from in County Clare, where a non-native population was introduced in the 1970s. Their poo smells nasty enough to deter some predators. Slow worms are named after this ability - the 'fragilis' part of Anguis fragilis means 'fragile'. The marathon mating sessions usually take place in May. I've never seen one at night or when it's raining. © The Trustees of The Natural History Museum, London. She later gives birth to the hatchlings, which are usually little more than four centimetres long. ', Slow worms will often hide under objects that will warm up in the Sun.

10.00-17.50 (last entry 16.30). Clip of a blackbird attacking a slow worm's rejected tail which is still thrashing around © Sussex Scrapbook To reverse the damage we've done and protect the future, we need the knowledge that comes from scientific discovery. Museum scientists are working hard to understand and fight against the threats facing British wildlife.Â. No matter the size, every gift to the Museum is critical to our 300 scientists' work in understanding and protecting the natural world. Â. The smooth snake is an exception. But unlike snakes, slow worms shed their skin in patches rather than all in one go. Now we're wondering if you can help us. Â, Every year, more people are reading our articles to learn about the challenges facing the natural world. The eggs hatch inside the female slow worm’s body, and the young stay there for a while, living off the yolk of the egg. We use cookies and similar technologies to optimise your experience when using this site and to help tailor our digital advertising on third party sites. Snakes in Britain have overlapping scales. Mark says, 'When I was growing up we had some sheets of corrugated iron in a set-aside area of our garden and we could almost guarantee finding slow worms under these.'. 1982873. Get email updates about our news, science, exhibitions, events, products, services and fundraising activities. Look out for a common lizard basking in the warm sun as you wander around heathlands, moorlands and grasslands. Male slow worm biting a female as part of their mating ritual © Schnoeppl/ Shutterstock.com. Despite the mounting pressures, hope is not lost. Adults are up to 50 centimetres long. So once the tail is gone, is that it? Â. While they don't tend to bite humans, slow worms do have another important use for their teeth.

Males are a greyish brown and females are brown with dark sides. Slow worms are quite widespread throughout mainland Britain and most common in Wales and southwest England. © davemhuntphotography/ Shutterstock.com. Snakes' tongues are more forked (the split at the end is much more pronounced). They favour compost heaps, using the warmth to heat up their bodies. Grass snakes are the UK's most common snake species. GB520 6111 04. Young slow worms have gold or silver backs with a black stripe down the middle, a black dot on their head and glossy black sides. Your chances are better from late spring through to early autumn. © Peter Turner Photography/ Shutterstock.com. For many, the Museum is a place that inspires learning, gives purpose and provides hope. Mark says, 'Although more reptiles lay eggs than give birth, in the UK the only reptiles that lay eggs are grass snakes and sand lizards.'. But it's actually a legless lizard, the only such creature native to Britain. They are quite well camouflaged and have various defence strategies.

A lot more have only tiny legs.

As well as compost heaps and log piles - which they love because they are also a great source of invertebrates - you could try piles of stones, pieces of old rubber-backed carpet or metal trays. © Rosemarie Kappler/ Shutterstock.com. It has a notched tongue. He says, 'Slow worms are not often seen out in the open. But this species is very rare. Will it be a stumpy slow worm forever? So if you spot smaller pieces of reptile skin, it probably belonged to a slow worm rather than a snake.



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