David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
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Reptiles 6 - Slow-worms
SLOW-WORM Anguis fragilis (m)
- The absence of a black dorsal
stripe distinguishes this Slow-worm
Anguis fragilis
as an adult male. Some males possess pale blue speckles and these can
become rather dense in mature individuals. Slow-worms have fully
functional eyelids, a feature which is shared with most other lizards
(geckos are an exception) but not with snakes. They also share the
capability of shedding their tails (autotomy), a typical lizard ploy for
distracting predators and evading capture. As the eyes of a Slow-worm
often become covered with slime during the process of feeding it is useful
to be able to clean them. In fact the face is normally thoroughly cleaned
by wiping it against vegetation after a meal. Slugs and worms are the
favoured food items. These are detected by scent (with the aid of a
fleshy, slightly forked tongue) and sight and then pursued by stealth -
and it must be said that slugs are not the most testing of prey to catch!
The mouth contains slightly recurved scales (teeth) which allow little
chance of escape, particularly if a slug has been taken head first as the
natural muscular movement of the slug aids swallowing and the bite is just
strong enough to be able to break through human skin. Although snails are
often quoted as being eaten by Slow-worms the shell frequently proves to
be an insurmountable barrier and it is debatable whether they are actually
taken. Snails may also produce a defensive froth of bubbles which may
confuse or deter a would-be predator. Slow-worms may be very long-lived,
with one captive individual allegedly surviving for over 50 years. This is
the only legless lizard to be found in the British Isles. Sadly these
entirely harmless and blameless creatures are often killed when they are
mistaken for snakes.
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David’s films of British reptiles and amphibians may be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4AirIEc0Nodlcvlf7oYAJgJo8k7pHJ-A.
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