slowworm
Snake-like legless lizard
A slowworm is a legless lizard native to Europe and parts of Asia, often mistaken for a snake.
Despite the name, it moves with reasonable speed when alarmed.
Slowworms are harmless, feeding mainly on slugs and snails, and can shed their tails like other lizards: We found a slowworm sunning itself in the garden.
Four-legged scaled reptile
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
- vertebrateSpinal column animal
- ectothermicTemperature set by surroundings
cold-blooded · blindworm · species · classification · reptilian
Having no limbs
- limblessWithout arms or legs
- elongatedStretched beyond usual dimensions
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
- slenderThin and graceful
scales · scaly · smooth · cylindrical · sinuous · flexible · eyelids · tail
Animal's dug dwelling
- burrowingDigging to create shelter
- secretiveInclined to conceal
- nocturnalActive during darkness
- crepuscularRelating to dusk
hibernate · basking · slither · undulate · hide · shelter · docile · ground-dwelling
Cultivated plant area
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- undergrowthLow forest vegetation
- hedgerowLinear shrub boundary
meadow · grassland · woodland · heathland · rockery · log pile · soil · damp
Feeding on animal flesh
- insectivoreOrganism eating bugs primarily
- slugNaked terrestrial mollusk
- snailShelled, slow-moving mollusk
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
prey · predator · feeding · gastropod · larva · beetle · spider · hunting
Island off northwestern Europe
- British IslesNorthwest European archipelago
- EuropeSmallest inhabited continent
- Central EuropeContinent's middle zone
- Northern EuropeContinent's arctic-adjacent region
Eurasia · native · range · population · widespread · temperate · indigenous
Kept from harm
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
- decliningDecreasing in strength
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
biodiversity · ecology · pesticides · gardening · beneficial · threatened
lizard
Four-legged scaled reptile
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
- vertebrateSpinal column animal
ectothermic · cold-blooded · blindworm · species · classification · reptilian
legless
Having no limbs
- limblessWithout arms or legs
- elongatedStretched beyond usual dimensions
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
slender · scales · scaly · smooth · cylindrical · sinuous · flexible · eyelids · tail · regeneration
burrow
Animal's dug dwelling
crepuscular · hibernate · basking · slither · undulate · hide · shelter · docile · ground-dwelling · reclusive
garden
Cultivated plant area
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- undergrowthLow forest vegetation
hedgerow · meadow · grassland · woodland · heathland · rockery · log pile · soil · damp · sheltered
carnivorous
Feeding on animal flesh
- insectivoreOrganism eating bugs primarily
- slugNaked terrestrial mollusk
- snailShelled, slow-moving mollusk
invertebrate · prey · predator · feeding · gastropod · larva · beetle · spider · hunting · foraging
Britain
Island off northwestern Europe
- British IslesNorthwest European archipelago
- EuropeSmallest inhabited continent
- Central EuropeContinent's middle zone
Northern Europe · Eurasia · native · range · population · widespread · temperate · indigenous
protected
Kept from harm
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
- decliningDecreasing in strength
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
wildlife · biodiversity · ecology · pesticides · gardening · beneficial · threatened
- reptileslizard, snake, turtle, crocodile, alligator
- European wildlifegrey wolf, red squirrel, brown hare, wild cat, mouflon
- limbless animalscobra, python, viper, boa, mamba
- lizardslizard, lizards, gecko, geckos, chameleon
- elongated creatureseel, snake, serpent, nematode, roundworm
- long and thineel, snake, centipede, millipede, nematode
slowwormsnake
Limbless scaled reptile
viper · adder · grass snake · serpent · cobra
slowwormgecko
Climbing lizard with toe pads
monitor lizard · iguana · chameleon · lizard · skink
slowwormfast-moving
Traveling at high velocity
active · energetic · vigorous · dynamic · aggressive