| Slow-worm - Anguis fragilis - Family: Anguidae
 Slow-worm - Anguis fragilis© Dr Chris Gibson/English NatureThe slow-worm is a legless lizard and is totally harmless to humans. Males are a uniform colour - grey, to light or dark brown. Females have a brown or copper coloured back with dark flanks. They often have a thin stripe down the back. The young are beautiful, being a bright shiny silver, copper or gold colour with dark sides and a dark stripe down the centre of the back. At this stage, they may fall prey to many species, including frogs and toads. The slow-worm is often found basking in the sun but is active on summer nights, devouring invertebrates, especially the small whitish slugs that cause so much damage to our garden plants. It is distributed widely throughout England, living in hedgerows and grassland. In some parts of the country it is frequently found in gardens, where its dietary habits should always make it a welcome guest. Watch out for them when you are cleaning out the compost heap as they often set up home here. Should you handle one, be careful. As is the case with other lizards, the slow-worm's tail can break off. Sadly, they can be easy prey to cats. The slow-worm hibernates from October to March. They have great longevity, in common with toads. One individual is recorded as having been kept in captivity for an astonishing 54 years. FoodSlugs, snails, other invertebrates. PreyBrandling worm, Brown-lipped banded snail, Common earthworm, Common garden snail, Discus snail, Slugs and snails, Woodlice/Millipedes/Centipedes PredatorsBadger, Buzzard, Carrion crow, Common toad, Fox, Grey heron, Hedgehog, Little owl, Stoat |
