Common slow worm

Anguis fragilis · The common slow worm is a non-venomous, legless lizard native to Europe.

Also called Slow worm, Slowworm, Blindworm, Deaf adder, Hazelworm.

Common slow worm
Photo: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0
Common slow worm
Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0
Common slow worm
Photo: Matej Grozdanov, CC BY 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyAnguidae
GenusAnguis
SpeciesAnguis fragilis

Where it lives

Grassland, heaths and gardens across western and central Europe.

Fun facts

  • When a predator grabs its tail, it can snap it off, but the regrown tail stays a short stub forever.
  • It may be the world's longest-living lizard, surviving about 30 years in the wild and at least 54 years in a zoo.
  • Instead of basking in open sun, it sneaks warmth by hiding under sun-heated rocks and logs.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).