Slow worm  (Anguis fragilis)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

The slow worm, a legless lizard, was once thought to be a serpent and is often mistaken for a snake. There are certain features that separate the slow worm from snakes, however, including the presence of an eye lid, which earned the species the alternative name of 'blind worm' (2). This species is the most commonly seen reptile in Britain (4). Adults have a smooth, shiny appearance, and a grey or bluish belly. Males and females are different in appearance; females are brown, copper coloured or red on the back, with brown or black sides, often with lighter iridescent flecks. In many individuals there is a dark stripe passing along the middle of the back and stripes running along the sides of the body. Males vary in colour, they may be greyish, brown, coppery or reddish-brown, and typically do not have stripes; furthermore, they have broader and longer heads (2). Occasionally, individuals may have blue spots, a feature that is more common amongst males than females. In juvenile slow worms, the back is iridescent silver, gold, bronze or copper and the sides are brown or black (2).

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