All About Slow Worms - Slow Worm Learning Centre
Despite both appearance and name, the Slow Worm is a type of lizard, just one with no legs! It can shed its tail and blink with eyelids - to characteristics that give this reptile away.
These are one of Britain's most unusual lizards, and they are often found basking in the sunlight in our gardens.
What is A Slow Worm?
Did you know a Slow Worm isn’t even a worm? Despite how it may look, it’s also not a snake! It’s actually a lizard (without legs).
These reptiles are found throughout the UK in grasslands, healths and woodlands. Slow Worms are not harmful to humans and are protected under UK law due to the decline of population in some areas.
Slow Worm Vs Snakes
Slow Worms may look similar to snakes, but they are actually quite different and are known as a 'legless lizard'.
In terms of appearance, Slow Worms have eyelids and can blink, unlike grass snakes who don’t. A Slow Worms body is shiny and smooth and all one shape, snakes are not shiny and have a distinct difference in the shape of their head and body. Slow Worms also have a flat forked tongue.
Both of these creatures are a great addition to any wildlife garden!
Are Slow Worms Endangered UK?
Yes, in the UK, Slow Worms are facing population loss due to losing their habitats and they are considered a ‘priority species’ under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
In the UK, Slow Worms are also protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act. This means that it is illegal to kill, injure or sell these reptiles.
Do Slow Worms Hibernate
Similar to all other reptiles, Slow Worms hibernate from around October to March each year.
During this time, the Slow Worms will burrow underground, or find a hole in a rotting tree to hide in for the winter. Before they hibernate, they will spend the Autumn preparing by foraging for slow moving prey.
Slow Worm Life Span
Compared to other British reptiles, Slow worms are believed to be the longest living of them all. In the wild, the average lifespan of this reptile is 15 years.
Some recordings even show Slow Worms living until the age of 54!
Where do Slow Worms Live?
Slow Worms are commonly found in grasslands, heathlands and woodland edges. In all of these places they are able to bathe in the sunlight and prey on invertebrates.
A bit closer to home, they are also found in wildlife garden and allotments, in these places they love to hunt in the compost heap.
Although widespread across the UK and one of the most common lizards, they are absent from Ireland.
Slow Worm Diet
For the main part of their diet, Slow Worms eat slugs and snails. They will, however, also eat other invertebrates like spiders and earthworms - most of the prey they eat are slow moving prey.
To make sure they have a good hold of their dinner, Slow Worms have backward curving teeth, this means that they can keep any creature in their mouth.
Slow Worm Breeding
Typically, these legless lizards breed during the spring and early summer months. As cold blooded reptiles, they hibernate during the colder months - as temperatures begin to rise, they emerge from their hibernation.
Slow Worms become more active and exhibit mating behaviours during the breeding season, Male Slow Worms actively search for female Slow Worms who then engaging in ritual courtship displays to attract an adult Slow Worm.
The male will approach the female with body movements, tongue flicking and sometimes gentle biting to establish dominance and that they are ready for mating.
After successful mating, the female Slow Worm retains the fertilised eggs internally. Gestation periods can vary but typically last between two to four months, depending on factors such as temperature and the female's health.
Unlike many other lizard species, Slow Worms give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. This is known as ovoviviparity. As the gestation period nears its end, the female Slow Worm will give birth to a litter of fully formed, miniature Slow Worms. Litter sizes can vary but typically range from 3 to 12 offspring.
Female Slow Worms do not provide parental care beyond giving birth to juvenile Slow Worms. Once the offspring are born, they are fully independent and must fend for themselves.
How Can I Help Slow Worms in My Garden?
If you’re interested in helping Slow Worms thrive in your garden, there a few things you can do to make your garden a safe space and attract Slow Worms to your outside space.
Preferring to hide for most of the day, Slow Worms need a habitat that will allow the to hide, forage and lay in the sunlight. In gardens, leave areas wild with piles of logs, rock and compost heaps. This shelter and warmth is sure to attract these lizards. Slow Worms are preyed on by man other animals, including pet cats, so this shelter allows the to hide and escape predators.
Shallow dishes or ponds provide an essential source of water for these reptiles as it allows them to maintain their hydration levels.
Native plants are a great way to attract insects - a primary food source for Slow Worms.
When gardening, be mindful of Slow Worms and other wildlife. Check compost heaps and under debris before moving them to avoid harming any hidden creatures.
Five Facts about Slow Worms
1. Despite their snake-like appearance, Slow Worms are not snakes but are actually legless lizards. They belong to the Anguidae family and are closely related to other lizards like skinks.
2. Slow Worms play a vital role in their ecosystems as predators of insects, slugs, and snails. They help control pest populations, making them beneficial garden allies.
3. Slow Worms are found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, heathlands, woodlands, and gardens. They prefer areas with ample cover, such as dense vegetation, leaf litter, or underground burrows.
4. Slow Worms reproduce through live birth, a trait shared with only a few other species of lizards. After a gestation period of several months, female Slow Worms give birth to fully-formed offspring rather than laying eggs.
5. Slow Worms face threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and road mortality. However, they are protected by law in many countries due to their declining populations. Conservation efforts focus on habitat preservation, wildlife corridors, and raising awareness about their ecological importance.
