Slow Worm

Anguis fragilis

Common & widespread in Britain between April-September.

Despite its name, the Common Slow Worm is neither a worm nor a snake.

Common Slow Worms are semifossorial (burrowing) Lizards that spend much of their time hiding underneath objects.

The skin of Slow Worms is smooth, with scales that do not overlap.

There is no visible neck.

The tail, which ends in a horny tip, is continuous with the trunk and is often slightly longer.

When regrown, the tail grows back only to a short stub, probably because loss of the tail does not sufficiently affect the species' locomotion, foraging, and defense abilities to necessitate full and rapid regeneration.