Eastern Slowworm

Anguis colchica

The Eastern Slowworm is a legless lizard that looks like a snake! It has shiny, smooth skin and loves to hide under rocks and leaves in the garden.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Eastern Slowworm has a long, cylindrical body that is shiny and covered in smooth scales, usually coppery-brown, bronze, or greyish. Juveniles often display a prominent dark stripe down their back. Unlike snakes, they possess eyelids and visible ear openings.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderLacertiliaFamilyAnguidaeGenusAnguis

Eastern Slowworm

Interesting facts

Eastern Slowworms have tiny ears and can blink, traits true snakes completely lack!

If you find one, they feel smooth and cool to the touch, almost like glass!

They use their strong, recurved teeth to grip slippery prey like slugs and earthworms!

They're called 'slowworms' but are actually lizards, not worms or snakes at all!

Special abilities

Eastern Slowworm can drop its tail to escape danger because it regenerates a new one, helping them survive attacks.

Eastern Slowworm can smoothly glide through dense undergrowth and loose soil because its body is perfectly adapted for burrowing.

Eastern Slowworm has eyelids that close, allowing them to blink and protect their eyes from dirt, unlike true snakes.

Eastern Slowworm gives birth to live, fully formed babies instead of laying eggs, helping its young have a safer start.

Measurements & details

Length: 30-50 cm
Weight: 0.02-0.1 kg
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Top Speed: 0.5 km/h
Clutch Size: 6-17

Diet & Feeding

These slow-moving hunters munch on soft-bodied creatures like slugs and earthworms.

Primary Foods

Slugs
Earthworms
Snails
Insect larvae

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Black Slug

Arion ater

A primary food source.

eats

Common Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

Often consumed in moist areas.

eaten by

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

A common predator in its range.

eaten by

Common Buzzard

Buteo buteo

Hunts slow-moving reptiles.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Grassland

Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Ambush Predator

An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range.

Hibernating

Hibernating animals enter a state of metabolic depression during cold periods or when food is scarce, characterized by reduced body temperature and activity.