Slow Worm- answers

1. A slow worm is a lizard that has evolved to have no legs.  So A is the correct answer.  You can tell the difference between a snake and a slow worm in several ways: slow worms can blink and have to open their mouth to let their tongue out.  Snakes don’t have eyelids and have a small opening in their mouths so their tongue can pop out whilst their mouths are still closed.
2. A female slow worm doesn’t lay her eggs, she keeps them inside her and then gives birth to baby slow worms that are about 4cm long
3. Slow worms can live around 20-30 years!
4. Generally slow worms like warm places, so the compost heap in the garden is a good bet.
5. Slow worms grow to about 40-50 cm long. They are much smaller than British snakes.
6. Slow worms have a number of tricks up their sleeve to try and avoid being eaten!  So the correct answer is E.  They can shed their tail which then continues to wriggle and writhe causing a distraction whilst it makes good its escape.  It can also drop a smelly poo which puts off some predators.

How many did you get right?

For more amazing facts about Slow Worms head over to the following websites:

https://www.arc-trust.org/slow-worm

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/slow-worms-most-unusual-lizards-in-britain.html

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/reptiles-and-amphibians/slow-worm/

Hope you enjoyed our little quiz and don’t forget to check out the other posts around the reserve.