One of our slow worms

About slow worms (Anguis Fragilis)

Despite their name and appearance, slow-worms are neither worms nor snakes, but are in fact lizards - they're given away by their ability to shed their tails and blink with their eyelids. The body is almost the same thickness from head to tail, with the tip of the tail being blunt.  Slow worms are covered in tiny scales which give them a metallic appearance. The males are usually brown with a copper or pink flush. Female slow worms and juveniles are a more golden colour, with a dark line running along the back.  Some slow worms have faint blue markings along their body. Like other reptiles, slow-worms hibernate, usually from October to March. Slow worms can live for up to 25 - 30 years in the wild

Size

Adults can grow to 40-45cm (16-18in) in length.

What do they eat?

Slugs, snails, spiders, insects and earthworms.

Conservation

In the United Kingdom, the slow worm is protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). Under this act, it is illegal to kill, injure, and sell individuals of this species. It is also classified as a ‘Priority Species’ under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP).