Slowworm

A Slowworm spotted in Totnes, Devon, England. About 20-25cm long.

Slowworms are Legless lizards which are distinct from snakes as they share a number of characteristics of lizards but have evolved to lose their legs.

Slowworms are burrowing lizards, spending much of their time hiding underneath objects. The skin of slowworms is smooth with scales that do not overlap one another. Like many other lizards, they autotomize, meaning that they have the ability to shed their tails to escape predators. While the tail regrows, it does not reach its original length. In the UK, they are common in gardens, and can be encouraged to enter and help remove pest insects by placing black plastic or a piece of tin on the ground. On warm days, one or more slowworms can often be found underneath these heat collectors. One of the biggest causes of mortality in slowworms in suburban areas is the domestic cat, against which it has no defence.