Slowworms
ExploreReptiles
Slowworms
Anguis
Slowworms are special reptiles that look like snakes but are actually lizards! They have smooth, shiny skin and love to hide under rocks and leaves in gardens and grasslands.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Slowworm is a legless lizard with a long, cylindrical body and a small head. It has smooth, glossy scales and often appears metallic brown, grey, or bronze, sometimes with a dark stripe along its back or flanks. Unlike snakes, it possesses eyelids and visible ear openings.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderLacertiliaFamilyAnguidaeGenusAnguis
Category
ReptilesRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Did you know the Slowworm is actually a lizard, not a snake, even though it has no legs?
Instead of laying eggs, baby Slowworms hatch inside their mother and are born alive!
Slowworms can live longer than many pets, with some reaching over 50 years old in zoos!
They use their long, forked tongues to "smell" their surroundings and find tasty snacks!
Special abilities
Ability
Tail Escape
Slowworms can shed their tail when threatened because it wriggles, distracting predators while they escape.
Ability
Blinking Eyes
Slowworms have eyelids, allowing them to blink and close their eyes, unlike most snakes.
Ability
Live Birth
Slowworms give birth to live, fully formed young because the eggs develop inside the mother, providing protection.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 30-50 cm
- Weight
- 0.02-0.15 kg
- Lifespan
- 10-30 years
- Top Speed
- 0.8 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 3-20
- Incubation
- 60-90 days
Diet & Feeding
Slowworms are hungry helpers who love to munch on slugs, snails, and insects!
Primary Foods
- Slugs
- Snails
- Earthworms
- Spiders
- Woodlice
- Small insects
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
A common predator that hunts Slowworms.
eaten by
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Birds of prey sometimes snatch Slowworms.
hunts
Black Slug
Arion ater
Slowworms are excellent hunters of garden slugs.
hunts
Common Earthworm
Lumbricus terrestris
Earthworms are a favourite snack for Slowworms.
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.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Also known as
Blindworm
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
If you see a slowworm, just watch it from a distance and don't try to touch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Slowworms?
30-50 cm
How much does Slowworms weigh?
0.02-0.15 kg
How long does Slowworms live?
10-30 years
How fast can Slowworms move?
0.8 km/h
What does Slowworms eat?
Slowworms are hungry helpers who love to munch on slugs, snails, and insects!
Where is Slowworms usually found?
Grasslands
How does Slowworms hunt?
Foraging
How many eggs does Slowworms lay?
3-20
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