Animalia > Chordata > Reptilia > Squamata > Anguidae > Anguis > Anguis fragilis
 

Anguis fragilis (Slow Worm)

Wikipedia Abstract

Anguis fragilis, or slow worm, slow-worm or slowworm, is a limbless reptile native to Eurasia. It is also sometimes referred to as the blindworm or blind worm, though the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) considers this to be incorrect. Slow worms are semi-fossorial (burrowing) lizards spending much of the time hiding underneath objects. The skin of the varieties of slow worm is smooth with scales that do not overlap one another.
View Wikipedia Record: Anguis fragilis

Infraspecies

Anguis fragilis colchica
Anguis fragilis fragilis

Attributes

Adult Weight [1]  14 grams
Maximum Longevity [2]  54 years

Ecoregions

Name Countries Ecozone Biome Species Report Map Climate Land
Use
Aegean and Western Turkey sclerophyllous and mixed forests Greece, Turkey, Macedonia Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub  
Alps conifer and mixed forests Italy, France, Switzerland, Slovenia Palearctic Temperate Coniferous Forests
Anatolian conifer and deciduous mixed forests Turkey Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Appenine deciduous montane forests Italy Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Atlantic mixed forests France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran Palearctic Deserts and Xeric Shrublands
Balkan mixed forests Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Baltic mixed forests Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Poland Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Caledon conifer forests United Kingdom Palearctic Temperate Coniferous Forests
Cantabrian mixed forests Spain, Portugal Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Carpathian montane forests Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine Palearctic Temperate Coniferous Forests
Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests Iran, Azerbaijan Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests    
Caucasus mixed forests Georgia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Armenia Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Celtic broadleaf forests Ireland, United Kingdom Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests  
Central European mixed forests Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Moldovia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Crete Mediterranean forests Greece Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub  
Crimean Submediterranean forest complex Russia, Ukraine Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Dinaric Mountains mixed forests Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Yugoslavia Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
East European forest steppe Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Ukraine Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Eastern Anatolian montane steppe Iran, Turkey, Armenia Palearctic Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
English Lowlands beech forests United Kingdom Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests    
Euxine-Colchic broadleaf forests Turkey Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Iberian conifer forests Spain Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Iberian sclerophyllous and semi-deciduous forests Spain, Portugal Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Illyrian deciduous forests Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Italian sclerophyllous and semi-deciduous forests Italy, France Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Kazakh forest steppe Russia, Kazakhstan Palearctic Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
North Atlantic moist mixed forests Ireland, United Kingdom Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Northeastern Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forests France, Spain Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Northern Anatolian conifer and deciduous forests Turkey Palearctic Temperate Coniferous Forests
Northwest Iberian montane forests Portugal, Spain Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Pannonian mixed forests Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Pindus Mountains mixed forests Albania, Greece Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Po Basin mixed forests Italy Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Pontic steppe Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine Palearctic Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands
Pyrenees conifer and mixed forests Spain, France, Andorra Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Rodope montane mixed forests Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Sarmatic mixed forests Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Russia, Sweden Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Scandinavian and Russian taiga Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia Palearctic Boreal Forests/Taiga
Scandinavian coastal conifer forests Norway Palearctic Temperate Coniferous Forests
Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands Norway, Sweden, Finland Palearctic Tundra
South Appenine mixed montane forests Italy Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Southwest Iberian Mediterranean sclerophyllous and mixed forests Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Tyrrhenian-Adriatic sclerophyllous and mixed forests France, Italy Palearctic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub    
Ural montane forests and tundra Russia Palearctic Boreal Forests/Taiga
West Siberian taiga Russia Palearctic Boreal Forests/Taiga
Western European broadleaf forests Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Western Siberian hemiboreal forests Russia Palearctic Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests

Protected Areas

Name IUCN Category Area acres Location Species Website Map Climate Land Use
AMVRAKIKOS KOLPOS, DELTA LOUROU KAI ARACHTHOU (PETRA, MYTIKAS, EVRYTERI PERIOCHI) 71136 Greece  
AMVRAKIKOS KOLPOS, LIMNOTHALASSA KATAFOURKO KAI KORAKONISIA 56861 Greece  
Adamello Presanella 69894 Italy  
Aggtelek Biosphere Reserve National Park II 59233 Hungary
Alpi Marittime 83205 Italy  
Alte Valli Anzasca, Antrona e Bognanco 53311 Italy  
Alte Valli Stura e Maira 103806 Italy  
Alto Garda Bresciano 53192 Italy  
Bayerischer Wald National Park II 59790 Germany
Belovezhskaya Pushcha Biosphere Reserve National Park II 218515 Belarus
Berchtesgaden Alps National Park II 51433 Germany
Berezinskiy Zapovednik State Nature Reserve Ia 209113 Belarus  
Beskid Slaski 65261 Poland  
Beskid Zywiecki 87169 Poland  
Boschi del Ticino 50788 Italy  
Brenta 73487 Italy  
Bukovské vrchy 106836 Slovakia  
COTIELLA - SIERRA FERRERA 62948 Spain  
Carpathian Biosphere Reserve 144772 Ukraine  
Cerová vrchovina a Rimavská kotlina 76986 Slovakia  
DELTA ACHELOOU, LIMNOTHALASSA MESOLONGIOU - AITOLIKOU, EKVOLES EVINOU, NISOI ECHINADES, NISOS PETALA 87747 Greece  
Dabrowy Krotoszynskie 84622 Poland  
Darvinsky Zapovednik Ia 278421 Yaroslavl, Vologda, Russia
Dolina Dolnego Bugu 183624 Poland  
Dolina Dolnej Pilicy 78633 Poland  
Dolina Pilicy 87367 Poland  
Dolina Ploni i Jezioro Miedwie 51289 Poland  
Dolina Srodkowej Warty 141108 Poland  
Dolna Odra 72985 Poland  
Dolomiti del Cadore e del Comelico 173952 Italy  
EL TURBÓN Y SIERRA DE SÍS 60101 Spain  
ETHNIKOS DRYMOS PRESPON 65762 Greece  
Eastern Beskid National Park II 68484 Poland  
Flusslandschaft Elbe Biosphere Reserve 925242 Germany  
Foresta Umbra 51042 Italy    
Góry Kamienne 59550 Poland  
HAUTES-VOSGES, HAUT-RHIN 58515 France  
Horná Orava 145144 Slovakia  
KENTRIKI RODOPI KAI KOILADA NESTOU 261804 Greece  
KOILADA ACHELOOU KAI ORI VALTOU 115492 Greece  
KORYFES OROUS VORA 99917 Greece  
Kavkazskiy Biosphere Reserve Ia 692723 Krasnodar, Karachay-Cherkessia, Adygea, Russia
Krkonose National Park V 95995 Czech Republic  
Laborecká vrchovina 266172 Slovakia  
Lagorai 114140 Italy  
Luberon Regional Nature Park V 406572 France  
Lyme Bay and Torbay 77215 England, United Kingdom
Morecambe Bay 151985 England, United Kingdom
North Pennine Moors 254789 England, United Kingdom
North York Moors 108930 England, United Kingdom
OROS OLYMPOS 47295 Greece  
OROS VORAS 196334 Greece  
Okskiy Biosphere Reserve 190748 Russia  
Ostoja Augustowska 264573 Poland  
Ostoja Inska 216738 Poland  
Ostoja Knyszynska 336272 Poland  
Ostoja Nadbuzanska 113759 Poland  
Ostoja Nadwarcianska 65861 Poland  
Ostoja Nidzianska 68254 Poland  
POSETS - MALADETA 82205 Spain  
Parco Del Cilento e Vallo de Diano National Park 551095 Italy
Parco Naturale Adamello 53676 Italy  
Parco Naturale Fanes - Senes - Braies 62896 Italy  
Parco Naturale Vedrette di Ries - Aurina 77376 Italy  
Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio National Park V 333737 Italy
Parco Regionale Orobie Bergamasche 121015 Italy  
Parco Regionale Orobie Valtellinesi 56377 Italy  
Pflaelzerwald Nature Park V 438818 Germany
Picentini 157557 Italy  
Pirin 99722 Bulgaria  
Polana Biosphere Reserve 50311 Slovakia  
Po¾ana 93067 Slovakia  
Prespa National Park II 62043 Greece  
Puszcza Bialowieska 156041 Poland  
Puszcza Kampinoska Biosphere Reserve 188373 Poland  
Reserve de la Biosphere des Vosges du Nord Biosphere Reserve 301469 France  
Retezat National Park II 94183 Romania
Risaie della Lomellina 76457 Italy  
Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve 319164 Germany
Slanské vrchy 157675 Slovakia  
Slowinski National Park II 50972 Poland    
South Wight Maritime 49082 England, United Kingdom
Spreewald Biosphere Reserve 117355 Germany  
Strážovské vrchy 147080 Slovakia  
Studenetz 69315 Bulgaria  
Teberdinskiy Biosphere Reserve Ia 210198 Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia
The New Forest 72309 England, United Kingdom
Trebon Basin Protected Landscape Area V 173393 Czech Republic  
Tsentral'no-Lesnoy Biosphere Reserve Ia 62630 Russia  
Ultimo - Solda nel Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio 69162 Italy  
Uroczyska Puszczy Drawskiej 183887 Poland  
VIÑAMALA 62053 Spain  
VOUNA EVROU 104705 Greece  
Vihorlat 133079 Slovakia  
Visimskiy Zapovednik Biosphere Reserve 443816 Russia  
Voronezhskiy Biosphere Reserve 95835 Russia  
Waddensea of Lower Saxony Biosphere Reserve 539522 Germany  
Wolin i Uznam 76089 Poland    
Zalew Wislany i Mierzeja Wislana 100974 Poland  
Zempléni-hegység a Szerencsi-dombsággal és a Hernád-völggyel 284651 Hungary  

Ecosystems

Biodiversity Hotspots

Name Location Endemic Species Website Map
Caucasus Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia, Turkey No
Irano-Anatolian Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Turkmenistan No
Mediterranean Basin Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Portugal, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey No

Prey / Diet

Lasius niger (Black garden ant)[3]
Lumbricus rubellus <Unverified Name>[3]
Lumbricus terrestris[3]

Prey / Diet Overlap

Competing SpeciesCommon Prey Count
Apodemus flavicollis (Yellow-necked mouse)1
Apodemus sylvaticus (Old World wood and field mouse)1
Carabus granulatus1
Carabus nemoralis1
Carduelis carduelis (European Goldfinch)1
Carduelis chloris (European Greenfinch)1
Carduelis spinus (Eurasian Siskin)1
Clethrionomys glareolus (Bank vole)1
Corvus frugilegus (Rook)1
Dendrocopos medius (Middle Spotted Woodpecker)1
Dryocopus martius (Black Woodpecker)1
Erinaceus europaeus (western European hedgehog)2
Gallinago gallinago (Common Snipe)2
Garrulus glandarius (Eurasian Jay)1
Lanius collurio (Red-backed Shrike)1
Meles meles (European Badger)2
Mustela putorius (European Polecat)1
Notiophilus biguttatus1
Nucifraga caryocatactes (Spotted Nutcracker)1
Oenanthe oenanthe (Northern Wheatear)1
Pica pica (Eurasian Magpie)1
Picus canus (Grey-headed Woodpecker)1
Picus viridis (European Green Woodpecker)1
Pollenia rudis (cluster fly)1
Rhagio lineola (Small Fleck-winged Snipe Fly)1
Rhagio scolopaceus (Downlooker Snipe Fly)2
Rhagio tringarius (Marsh Snipe Fly)1
Sarcophaga carnaria (Camouflaged Flesh Fly)1
Saxicola rubetra (Whinchat)1
Scolopax rusticola (Eurasian Woodcock)2
Sorex araneus (Eurasian shrew)3
Sus scrofa (wild boar)2
Talpa europaea (European Mole)3
Troglodytes troglodytes (Winter Wren)1
Turdus merula (Eurasian Blackbird)2
Turdus philomelos (Song Thrush)1
Turdus pilaris (Fieldfare)1
Turdus torquatus (Ring Ouzel)1
Turdus viscivorus (Mistle Thrush)1
Vanellus vanellus (Northern Lapwing)1
Vulpes vulpes (Red Fox)2
Zootoca vivipara (Viviparous Lizard)1

Predators

Coronella austriaca (Smooth Snake)[4]
Coronella girondica (Southern Smooth Snake)[5]
Elaphe longissima (Aesculapean Snake)[6]

Consumers

Parasitized by 
Acanthocephalus ranae[7]
Agamospirura minuta <Unverified Name>[7]
Ascarops strongylina <Unverified Name>[7]
Cosmocerca ornata <Unverified Name>[7]
Entomelas dujardini <Unverified Name>[7]
Entomelas entomelas <Unverified Name>[7]
Lecithodendrium crassicole <Unverified Name>[7]
Leptophallus nigrovenosus <Unverified Name>[7]
Mesocestoides tetrathyridium <Unverified Name>[7]
Neoxysomatium brevicaudatum <Unverified Name>[7]
Neoxysomatium caucasicum <Unverified Name>[7]
Oswaldocruzia filiformis <Unverified Name>[7]
Oswaldocruzia goezei <Unverified Name>[7]
Oxysomatium brevicaudatum <Unverified Name>[7]
Paraentomelas dujardini <Unverified Name>[7]
Physocephalus sexalatus[7]
Pleurogenoides medians <Unverified Name>[7]

Institutions (Zoos, etc.)

    Maps
Institution Infraspecies / Breed 
Helsinki Zoo
Highland Wildlife Park
Kaliningrad Zoo
Nordens Ark
Opel-Zoo von Opel HessischeZoostiftung
Riga Zoo
Shuttleworth College Animal Centre
Wildwood Trust

Distribution

Finland, Norway, Sweden, England, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary Albania, Bulgaria, Greece (incl. Corfu = Corfou), Yugoslavia: Croatia, Sloveni;

External References

Photos

Citations

Species recognized by Uetz P., , TIGR Reptile Database in Catalog of Life 2011
Attributes / relations provided by ♦ 1Length–weight allometries in lizards, S. Meiri, Journal of Zoology 281 (2010) 218–226 ♦ 2de Magalhaes, J. P., and Costa, J. (2009) A database of vertebrate longevity records and their relation to other life-history traits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 22(8):1770-1774 ♦ 3Ecology of Commanster ♦ 4Reproductive output, costs of reproduction, and ecology of the smooth snake, Coronella austriaca, in the eastern Italian Alps, L. Luiselli, M. Capula, R. Shine, Oecologia (1996) 106:100-110 ♦ 5Geographic variation in the diet composition of a secretive Mediterranean colubrid snake: Coronella girondica from Spain and Italy, Luca Luiselli, Juan M. Pleguezuelos, Massimo Capula, Carmen Villafranca, Ital. J. Zool., 68: 57-60 (2001) ♦ 6Food habits of Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti, 1768) (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae) in Bieszczady (south-eastern Poland), BARTŁOMIEJ NAJBAR, Vertebrate Zoology 57 (1) 2007, 73-77 ♦ 7Gibson, D. I., Bray, R. A., & Harris, E. A. (Compilers) (2005). Host-Parasite Database of the Natural History Museum, London
Ecoregions provided by World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF). WildFinder: Online database of species distributions, ver. 01.06 gis.wwfus.org/wildfinder
Protected Areas provided by Natura 2000, UK data: © Crown copyright and database right [2010] All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100017955 ♦ Biological Inventories of the World's Protected Areas in cooperation between the Information Center for the Environment at the University of California, Davis and numerous collaborators. ♦ GBIF Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Biodiversity Hotspots provided by Biodiversity Hotspots, Conservation International
Images provided by Google Image Search
Abstract provided by DBpedia licensed under a Creative Commons License
Weather provided by NOAA METAR Data Access
Institution information provided by International Species Information System - May 2011