Slow Worm
Anguis fragilis
About This Species
Despite its name and snake-like appearance, this is a legless lizard found in gardens, grassland, woodland edges, and compost heaps across much of Europe, where it shelters under logs, stones, and leaf litter by day. It is most often found by carefully turning cover objects such as logs or flat stones, revealing its smooth, glossy, coppery body, and it is most active on mild, damp days in spring through autumn. Basking individuals can sometimes be seen at the edges of cover on warm mornings.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- If found under cover, it should be observed briefly and the cover object replaced gently exactly as found, since repeated disturbance of shelter sites degrades habitat for this and other species using the same refuge.
- It receives legal protection from killing, injuring, and sale in the United Kingdom, though protection levels and specific provisions differ across other European countries in its range, so local law should be checked before handling.
- Handling should be avoided or kept brief, as excessive stress can affect a reptile's condition.
LCSquamataNaNAnguidae
Seasonal Activity
207,698 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Squamata
- Order
- NaN
- Family
- Anguidae
Photo
(c) Shreybae, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Shreybae
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.