Species: Slowworm (Anguis fragilis)
Family: Slowworms (ANGUIDAE)
Category: Reptiles
Location: Widespread
A. Reptiles
More extensive information on reptiles can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Slowworms (ANGUIDAE)
The hedgehogs in the cemetery are predators of reptiles, but slowworms make full use of their ability to conceal themselves, especially in mature grassland, which is their preferred habitat and which is abundant in the cemetery. They are not as slow as their name might suggest. They are happy in sun or shade, their scaly skin ensures they don’t have the problems of moisture loss that amphibians have, but damp, shady places are still important because they prefer to deposit their young in such places.
C. Slowworm (Anguis fragilis)
The slowworm is cylindrical in shape and hard and smooth to the touch. The tiny skin scales give it a shiny metallic appearance. Young slow-worms (born live) and mature females are gold or silver, with shiny dark brown or black sides and a fine dark stripe or zig-zag down the back. Males vary in colour, but are usually an even cream, beige, brown or grey with or without blue flecking. Slowworms are carnivores, preferring slugs and earthworms, but they will take insects, arachnids, and other invertebrates. They give birth to live young in August or September, and as they do not give any parental care the young must fend for themselves. It is important not to create disturbance in shady places in the cemetery as young slowworms may be hiding there. Slowworms will burrow as well as take advantage of holes and hidden spaces. They slough their skins more than once a year, so their movements can be tracked to a certain extent from these. Their tails are brittle, so care is needed when handling them. If a tail is found it may indicate a hedgehog attack. Slowworms may look as though they don’t have a tail, like snakes, but they are actually relatives of lizards, not snakes. The colloquial name ‘legless lizard’ should not be taken to indicate a fondness for overindulging in alcohol.
Images
Slowworm
Slowworms may look as though they don’t have a tail, like snakes, but they are actually relatives of lizards, not snakes. Twenty-four slowworms were introduced into the Cemetery in late September 2020.
Slowworm
The slowworm is cylindrical in shape and hard and smooth to the touch.
Slowworm
The tiny skin scales of a slowworm give it a shiny metallic appearance.
Slowworm
Mature females are gold or silver, with shiny dark brown or black sides and a fine dark stripe or zig-zag down the back.
Slowworm
Slowworms are carnivores, preferring slugs and earthworms, but they will take insects, arachnids, and other invertebrates.
Slowworm
Slowworms give birth to live young in August or September, and the young must fend for themselves.
Slowworm
Slowworms slough their skins more than once a year, so their movements can be tracked to a certain extent.
Slowworm
Slowworms' tails are brittle, so care is needed when handling them.
Slowworm
Slowworms shed their skin periodically, leaving the old skin in sections, whereas snakes emerge from an abandoned skin that they leave behind as a single length.
There's a rather nice video on YouTube of a Slowworm shedding its skin.
Slowworm
Note the fine dark stripe or zig-zag down the back of this Slowworm. Just for scale, in the bottom-left of the photograph is a spider dashing for its burrow - a lucky escape as slowworms will eat spiders.
