Reproduction

Their mating season will begin in around April. During this period males become highly aggressive to one another.

The courtship period for these animals can last for as long as 10 hours.

Following a successful mating the eggs are incubated inside the female. These will hatch and the young spend a short period living inside the female and feeding off their yolk.

She will then give birth to between 6 and 12 live young after a 3 to 5 month gestation period. The entire incubation period is undertaken inside the body.

Males mature first between 3 and 4 years old followed by the females between 4 and 5 years old.

Behavior

From October to March the slow worms will hibernate. Males emerge from this slumber before the females. In norther parts of their range where they undertake the longest hibernation they may spend as much of half of their life in this state.

They may also spend the hottest parts of summer underground.

Most of their activity takes place at dusk though they may occasionally emerge during the day to bask. When at rest they burrow in to loose sand or under a rock.

To warm up the slow worm will sit on a rock or log.

Slow worms will regularly shed their skin. This is done in multiple pieces unlike snakes which shed their skin in one piece.

Predators and Threats

Predators of the slow worm include domestic cats, birds such as pheasants, hedgehogs, European badgers and snakes such as adders.

When threatened by a predator the slow worm has the ability to shed its tail. This allows them to escape with the important parts of their body. The tail can continue to move for up to 15 minutes helping to distract the predator.

The tail will regenerate but this process is slow leaving them looking short in appearance for long periods. This new tail will differ in color and internal structure to the original.

They may also defecate when captured which produces a foul smell which can put off predators.

Humans have affected slow worms though habitat loss caused by urbanization and fires. They may also be killed by vehicle strikes.

Quick facts

With a lifespan of up to 54 years the slow worm is a candidate for being one of the world's longest lived lizards.

Slow worms may also be known as blind worms.