Slow Worm - HCKK

The Anguis fragilis, also known as the slow or blind worm is actually neither a worm nor a snake, as it is often mistaken to me. Contrary to this misconception, it is a legless lizard that is native to Eurasia and commonly found in all parts of the UK, but are very shy and difficult to spot. In England, they're under a protected status as domestic cats take advantage of their lack of protection against most predators.

Features such as it having eyelids and the ability to autotomize (shed its tail to escape predators) and then regrow their tail (albeit not to its original length), visible ears and the shedding of skin in patches rather than as a whole secure its status as a lizard rather than a worm or snake.

Thermoregulation
As an ectotherm, the slow worm gets most of their heat energy from the external environment, and to maximize their ability to do so, they have developed certain adaptations.

The slow worm is a semifossorial (burrowing) lizard, and it has this behavioral adaptation of burrowing into the ground, hiding under logs or other objects to encourage the retention of heat as well as capture more of it. By staying under ground or under logs, the slow worm isnt exposed to the harsh and cold temperatures of the british climate, and it is still able to reach most of its prey (slugs, insects and snails etc) from this position.

The British Government also encourages people to lay out dark coloured tarpaulins for these lizards as this will give them a place to hide under, and the dark colour of the tarpaulin will absorb plenty of heat energy for the reptiles.

Like most other lizards, the slow worm also has the behavioural adaptation of basking in the sun, although this particular reptile prefers semi shrouded areas, for example grassy fields, as opposed to being exposed to the open. This is recognized as a preventative measure against predators spotting the lizard, and its grey or brown colour (depending on sex) allow the slow worm to camouflage easily in grassier areas. This darker colouration also helps the slow worm absorb as much heat energy as possible.

The slow worm, on average, grows to a length of about 50cm long. Their length also allows them to, similarly to many other lizards, position themselves sidelong against the suns rays and thus maximizing surface area for the absorption of heat energy.