Slow Worm

Description

Available in A3, A4 and A5 framed and unframed

The slow worm (Anguis fragilis) is a legless lizard native to Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula, and is often mistaken for a snake due to its elongated, smooth-scaled body. Typically growing up to 50 cm in length, it has a sleek, bronze or grey appearance, sometimes with subtle stripes or speckles. Unlike snakes, the slow worm has movable eyelids and can shed its tail as a defense mechanism when threatened. It is a secretive and largely nocturnal reptile, preferring damp habitats such as grasslands, woodlands, and gardens, where it shelters under logs, rocks, and leaf litter. A valuable ally to gardeners, it feeds on slugs, worms, and other soft-bodied invertebrates. Despite its name, the slow worm is an agile burrower and a resilient species, although it faces threats from habitat destruction, road traffic, and predation by birds and mammals. Its ability to regenerate its tail and its long lifespan—sometimes exceeding 20 years—make it one of the most fascinating reptiles in Europe.