Slow Worm
Anguis fragilis
- Class
- Reptile
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 30,347
- Most observed in
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The common slow worm (Anguis fragilis) is a non-venomous species of legless lizard native to Europe. It is also called a deaf adder, blindworm, or regionally, a long-cripple, steelworm, and hazelworm. Despite confusion, the common slow worm is not a worm, or 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.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Common slow worm”.