Facts about Slow Worm

1. 06

   Slow worms reach sexual maturity between 4 and 5 years of age, later than many other small reptiles in temperate climates.

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2. 05

   Slow worms possess moveable eyelids and external ear openings, distinguishing them from snakes that lack these features despite their legless appearance.

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3. 04

   Females of the species Anguis fragilis give birth to live young rather than laying eggs, producing between 4 and 30 offspring per breeding cycle.

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4. 03

   Slow worms consume approximately 40 slugs and snails weekly during their active season, making them valuable natural pest controllers in gardens.

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5. 02

   European slow worms typically live 20 years in the wild, making them among the longest-lived legless lizards in temperate regions.

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6. 01

   Legless slow worms can detach their tails when threatened, a defensive mechanism called autotomy that allows escape from predators.

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