History and origin
The Slow worm was first described by Linnaeus in 1758, the scientific name of this species is Anguis fragilis. Anguis from Latin meaning 'slim' and 'snake'. Fragilis from Latin meaning 'fragile'.

Characteristics
They are characterised by their snake like appearance with no limbs, however they are in fact a lizard.

Description
=Size=
They can grow up to 500 mm long (sometimes a lot more). New born may measure around 100 mm long.
=Morphology=
They are snake-like. Smooth scales and a blunt tail. They have eye-lids. This sub-species has between 24 to 26 scales around their body.
=Patterns & colours=
The juveniles have a more golden colour to them with a vivid black line running along the back with a diamond pattern when the line reaches the head. They have very smooth scales. As adults they are always silvery in colour, males having a very uniform back with sometimes in older animals, blue spots, the females have dark flanks and sometimes a faint line running down their back.

Geographical range
They are very widespread. They are only majority absent from the southern half of Spain and Portugal, on the Mediterranean islands, in Ireland and most of Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Subspecies
- colchicus - Found in eastern Europe.
- fragilis - Found in western Europe.

Sexual differences
Males patterns is very uniform and they sometimes have light blue speckles along the flanks. Females usually have darker flanks.

Seasonal variations
None.

Diet
The slow worm feeds on worms, slugs and other insects.

Defensive habits
If caught they bite and wriggle to escape, and sometimes shed their tail in a bid to be dropped. They are aggressive when handled and even bite, however it's not strong.

Reproduction
Breeding occurs when they wake up from hibernation in spring. The females give birth to about 6 to 12 young, that have been growing for around 3 months. The females mate only once every two years.

Sexual maturity, life span
The average life span for Anguis fragilis is about 15 years (a record of 54 years has been reached in captivity). They reach their sexual maturity at three years for males and four for females.

Habits
Active by day, but they are secretive and rarely seen without turning over things (see habitat). When they are disturbed they try to move away but they are too slow . If caught they bite and wriggle to escape, and sometimes shed their tail in a bid to be dropped. Pregnant females spend a lot of time in the sun, more then if not pregnant. They live within a family group, often sticking together, the male, female and often several young.

Habitat
Found at under 2000 m altitude. They are found through a variety of damp areas, at the back of gardens, under logs, bricks, corrugated iron etc...

Predators
They are the prey of many birds and snakes.