Anguis
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Anguis cephalonnicus |
The genus Anguis, or the slow worms, is a typical example of the adaptation of a species to its surroundings, in this case a burrowing, subterranean existence. They hibernate under the ground in a hole, twisted together with many of its kind.
Although they are lizards, slow worms have lost their limbs completely and look like snakes. Head and body blend into one another. Half of its length (40 to 50 cm) consists of its tail.
Slow worms, as their name indicates, move slowly and aren't shy at all, and can be easily caught. But then they start to wriggle so hard, that their tail breaks off (autotomy). Hence it Latin name : fragilis (breakable). The new tail grows only to a length of a few centimetres.
The small eyes have moveable eyelids. They have a leadgray back, redbrown flanks and a blueblack belly. They have sharp, little teeth with grooves. This allows them to grab and swallow whole their soft invertebrate prey, such as slugs, hairless caterpillars and earthworms. Snails are usually avoided, except when they are still very young and the shell can be easily broken. Their tongue, which moves constantly, is sensitive to smells.
[edit] Classification
Subfamily Anguinae
- Genus Anguis
- Anguis cephalonnicus - Peloponnese Slow Worm
- Anguis fragilis
