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species spotlight on Anguis fragilis

SLOWWORM.gif (8224
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A.K.A.     Slowworm.

DESCRIPTION / COLORATION    Legless, small head and eyes;  Young are yellow with a dark stripe on top and black on bottom.  Adults are brown to gray.   Males may have blue spots.

SIZE    Normal range is 11-12 inches in length, but some individuals may grow larger.  20 inches is the maximum size.  Females are usually larger than males.

HOME     Mainland Europe, southern Scandinavia, Great Britain, and southwest Asia.

HABITAT     Slowworms prefer areas that are moist with plenty of cover.   They may be found in hedges, railway embankments, gardens, woodland edges, meadows, and garbage dumps.

LIFESTYLE     This animal is most active at twilight and after rainfall.   It is a solitary animal during the summer;  but in the winter, it hibernates in communities with up to 30 individuals.

PREDATORS    Young slowworms are eaten by frogs and toads.  Adults may be preyed upon by snakes, hedgehogs, foxes, and birds.

DEFENSES    The slowworm has the ability to shed its tail, allowing it to escape the predator.

FOOD    Snails, slugs, earthworms, insects, and spiders.

BREEDING     Slowworms mate in April or May shortly after hibernation.   These animals are ovoviviparous.  Most young will be born in August, but cooler temperatures can cause prolonged incubations.  The females have the ability to incubate their young for up to a year.  3 - 26 young make up a clutch.

LIFE SPAN     Up to 54 years in captivity.

IN CAPTIVITY   These animals require a vivarium with a lot of places to hide and burrow.  Temperature should be kept at 60 - 70 degrees with a basking area of increased heat.  Breeding is possible in captivity.

SPECIAL CONCERNS    Slowworms are helpful to gardeners because they eat the white slugs that cause damage to vegetables.


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