Slow Worms | The Complete Guide
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- Опубліковано 27 сер 2024
- Slow Worms are legless lizards native to the UK. Watch the complete guide to Slow Worms to learn all about these beautiful reptiles and where to find them. Whilst on location at Totternhoe Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, I encounter one of Britains strangest reptiles. The Slow Worm. In this video, I give you facts, footage and more about this intriguing animal.
All footage taken by Leo R.
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Natural World Facts is a channel dedicated to bringing you fascinating facts about our natural world, and the wonderful animals that we share it with, presented by Leo Richards.
It's so much like a snake even with it's behavior not just looks. They are very friendly tho. Much less prone to biting or striking you though. They're amazing.
Not a snake a legless lizard
Lies
@@cajunfire6290 what?
@@cajunfire6290 wtf you talking about? Do you just write crap for the sake of it?
@@kushcloud420he didn’t say it was a snake
I love their gentility, and how peaceful they were in your presence. How incredibly beautiful.
Indeed they are so gentle, once they knew I wasn’t a threat they acted as if I wasn’t even there.
@@NaturalWorldFacts Even the pregnant one! You have a gift.
Haha, the slow worm whisperer would be an appropriate title
@NaturalWorldFacts I came to this video because I saw something this morning but wasn't sure what it was it looked like a slow worm, as in no defined neck etc., this video was so helpful.
I was brought up in the countryside and Slow Worms were very common. We all seemed to have one as a pet tool told to release them by our parents. They are lovely, gentle.
Nice to see a young man being so keen and knowledgeable about the wildlife around him.
I grew up in my grandparents garden absolutely in awe of these !! Randomly on the sofa I started to think about them and came across your incredibly informative and well executed video, brilliant 🙌🏻
That’s such a lovely memory to have, these are beautiful creatures and I remember being in love with them as a child. I hope my video did them justice :)
I saw my 1st slow worm last week, and the otherworldly beauty of it just astounded me! They look like liquid bronze...so beautiful! 💚
Fascinating.
And your presentation skills are excellent!
Thank you thats really sweet :) glad you enjoyed, and welcome to the channel
To add something to Your Guide: These Lizards (Anguis Fragilis) can also reach an Age of 50+ Years, what is for an Lizard a really long Lifespan (Most other Species do rarely touch the Mark of 20 Years) their Tail will never regrow if it has been thrown off, what is Kinda Bummer, so they really have only 1 (One) Extra Life. The Tail can, if still there, be used to hold themself in Balance or hold onto something while they are climbing (but they rarely climb, especially when they get older) also they can be very quick if they have soaked enough Heat - and can nearly crawl the same Speed backwards, as they can "fly" forward. Greetings from Germany!
Hi! You seem very knowledgeable about the slowworm! I'm searching for an answer on how high a barrier must be to keep them from laying on the bycicleroad and getting killed. Do you know if hazelworms are able to climb over a (steep)wall of about 10 cm high? Or should it be higher? Thanks in advance for your help. Greetings from the Netherlands!
Thanks and that knowledge comes mostly from direct Experience, especially the Behaviour and Movement from the small Ones can hardly be observed in the Wild. So one of mine as Pet kept Slowworms escaped this Summer. It must have "jumped" at least a Distance of 15 cm. , then held its Weight with its Head, and crawled then allover. And that is the smaller One, about 24 cm. "long". So keep in Mind, these Slow/Hazelworms or "Blindschleiche" in german can grow next to nearly 60 cm in length, they might get a bit less agile when reaching adulthood, but i would bet they still can climb Obstacles, if they want to, that are at least 40 cm high. Also, they live about 80% of their Life inside the Ground, so they can easily get to that Street or "Bycilcle Way" through their excellent burrowing Skills.I hope i could give you a little Insight about these lovable Lindworms, nice to read your Efforts for saving them...but yes, the only Thing i still not have seen from a Slowworm: real flying and fire/acid spitting, but i am still open for that! lol. For real: they are hard to hold inside something, i think that is what makes them the most common (and successful) Reptile in northern Europe, they are durable, squishy and anything else but "slow". And the Netherlands
I've had a copper coloured one for a while...
A beauty of nature.
This is really good, Leo! You’ve got real talent with finding and presenting these reptiles. I was delighted to find a slow worm in my back yard this past week - what a lovely critter :)
Superb creatures
Great film 👍
Thanks so much, I'm really proud of this one which is unusual for me - I think these creatures are just so beautiful and I was so thrilled to have finally found them again after so long. I'd only encountered them once before, in the Lake District, 4 years ago, when they captivated me from the moment I picked one up and had it poo on me 😂
I first saw slow worms 3 days ago. In fact I didn't until my dog alerted me to them. Two had bitten each other and were kind of comical. My hiking group and I thought they were snakes. But I asked 1. why they were "fat in the head" and 2. why their tails looked fat too or as if the tips had fallen off. Now I've got my answers. They aren't snakes.
They were mating too by the sounds of it!
I have slow worms in my garden.I've made a compost bin they can enter through they love the warmth it creates and the invertebrates it attracts
That’s awesome, I’d love one of those
Thank you!! Great video!! Very informative!! I love slow worms. So peaceful and gentle. And that face is cutest..🥰
Another great video, I love this style of editing and filming 😍 great music too! Didn’t realise they were ovoviviparous! I’ve not been to this gorgeous nature reserve but now I want too after seeing your videos! 💚
Thanks Shelby! Really glad you like the style, another one coming next Tuesday about toads. You should definitely visit the reserve, it’s a lovely little secret spot, it has a lot of history and I only know about it through family living very close by to it. They grew up here 💛
Got here from your old slow worm vid and you've really grown and improved keep it up!!!!
Thank you, I definitely feel a lot happier with the content I’m able to create now than when I was younger, can’t help but cringe at my old vids, thanks for the support :)
Loved them when I was a kid.
I’m so glad I’ve found this channel. My autistic 10 yr old son is absolutely wild about British creatures in nature - we were just having a discussion this morning about slow worms and adders, and came on UA-cam to find some more information for him! Such a fantastic video - he’s gonna love it
Super nice capture on these slow worms.
Thank you, love these little legless lizards!
I saw a slow worm on holiday In Devon, fascinating animals
Brilliant!! How big?
@@NaturalWorldFacts It was pretty big but not massive probably around 30 centimetres
you're like a young nature and biology oriented tom scott
That’s the loveliest compliment I’ve heard. I adore Tom Scott, so this is so wonderful to hear 😁!
Good focus on this British species. Been ages since I've seen one. Must get into the habit of looking under rocks and logs! 👍😎👍
Thanks as always for the support 😁 definitely keep looking, they’re well worth looking for
This is lovely! I have some old carpet, placed on a west facing grassy slope, in my garden and slow worms absolutely love it. I checked this morning and there was about ten adults under there. I only look once a week - at most - so as not to disturb them too much and make them feel threatened. They're such lovely creatures to have in the garden. But it is so important not to use slug pellets or pesticides.
But something I'd very much like to know is whether grass snakes prey on slow worms. I've had both in various gardens over the years, but never both at once!
It's a legless lizard, but not an actual snake... Very strange, cute animal. In Italy we call it "orbettino" (orbehtteenoh).
You’re absolutely right! And that’s a cool name for them, thanks for sharing :D
Super video
Thanks man :)
Interesting my friend.. liked it
Thanks friend :) glad you enjoyed
I had no idea this animal existed, great video
You have a wealth of knowledge I’ve learned a lot thanks✌️
Beautiful animal. Thanks for the interesting video. :)
3 videos in and I'm hooked on your channel! The greater whole of Britain has such proficiency in producing adventurers of the natural world!
Thanks Lauren!! ☺️
Hey man I just found your channel and am absolutely blown away by the quality of your content! I love the relaxed style and cinematic appeal, as well as the superb conservation info you always deliver. If you ever need footage of North American wildlife feel free to reach out anytime, I'd be happy to share any footage I have that would be useful to your content. Keep up the amazing work!
I saw a slow worm today! In March! It was a very sunny interval between showers.
Beautiful creatures
hey ! new friend... nice video.. keep going ..Full support
Take Care..
stay safe ..
lots of love from nepal
Thank you so much 🤗
Brilliant video, i love slow worms.
Thanks!! They’re my fave animals
Great video mate, love these little guys
Thanks Connor!! Me too, they’re gorgeous
Great video. I'm mildly obsessed with slow worms! lol
When you find an adult with a full tail, the difference in length to an adult that has dropped theirs is quite staggering!
Thanks! And me too, they’re so beautiful.
The one I found with a re-grown tail seemed so out of proportions in terms of length and width. It was so girthy, but with a short little stump that hadn’t grown back with its original tapered point. I think autotomy is such a cool process.
@@NaturalWorldFacts I wonder why their tails only grow back to a small stump/tip, where as common lizards re-grow full tail?
It’s certainly peculiar! And I think I read somewhere that slow worms can only drop their tails once, and when it regrows, the new tail is permanent. Do you know if that’s also the case with other lizards?
@@NaturalWorldFacts Yeah I believe that's correct for slow worms. A one time only opportunity to drop its tail. Shame because they are long lived and have many predators. I honestly don't know about other lizards?
This is so good and informative!
Thanks so much :D
Thank you for this, I come across one of these beautiful creatures yesterday basking in the sun on a stone footpath near the river Nene and was sure what it was.
This was incredibly informative. Awesome video.
That was a great video, will presented, edited and interesting. Nice work ;)
Thank you so much! That means a lot :D
Adorable 🤣, don't think that's how I would describe them 🤣.
Thanks for the excelent informative film, I'm about to move to a house that has slow worms in the garden so thought I'd find out a bit about them .
Woah, commented on your old slow worm video like 4-5 years ago and you look totally different now!
Aw really? That’s amazing! That was my first ever British Wildlife video, such a long time ago! Crazy that you remembered 😊
It's always fun learning about peculiar animals
Great video. Thanks
So glad I found this channel
Very cool! Good job!
Thanks :)
I'm fascinated at the fact they have leg bones in their bodies
I love Slow Worms
Great video thanks
Brilliant content!
Great job my man 🙏🏼
Cheers 😁
Didn't know anything about these until recently, great vid!
Love them and my kids too❤ have loads in garden
found one in romania today. gorgeous little fella.
nice video Leo. Although I have to say, I'm jealous! I am still yet to see my first ever slow worm...
Second time ever seeing them, I was so excited!! You’ll find them one day, try the Lake District, or many northern nature reserves under corrugated iron
@@NaturalWorldFacts I'll keep trying, I'm sure you're right - one day I'll find one! :)
For sure! I never quite expect it when I stumble across them, but it’s always a brilliant surprise. Oh and p.s. I’ll be trying to record for the Pine Marten collab soon but I may not be able to until the 20th- I know this is after the 13th when you planned to release but I hope it can be ok, if not then let me know and go ahead and record the parts in my place, but I’d love to be a part of it if it’s still acceptable to have it done a little later (Just lacking resources while I’m away, but I’m home by the 20th)
I like that font for the vocab
Awesome, thanks, I’m glad you like it :) welcome to the channel by the way, glad you’ve joined us
In torquay where I'm based you find these. I have to be careful when doing my garden as I'll often find them. They are lovely little things... I always pick them up and put them somewhere safe.
That was a first rate presentation and I learned a lot, I hope you get a career in your passion.
Well, i am definitely going slow worm hunting. Thanks for the tips on where to find them.
No worries, good luck!
@@NaturalWorldFacts thanks, have you done a video about Britain's only venomous snake? The adder?
I’d love to, and one day I will. Unfortunately, I’ve never been lucky enough to find one to film myself.
However, there is one video on adders on my channel, but it’s very old now and quite cringy!! Here’s the link: ua-cam.com/video/wB-gODmr-IY/v-deo.html
@@NaturalWorldFacts i think they inhabit tall grass and live in fields, they like living under tree bark and metal i think.
Yeah I’ve gone searching for them a few times but the weather was always awful, so they wouldn’t have been out basking. Tried some corrugated sheets - no luck. Have you seen them often? If so, which part of the country do you reckon is best for finding them?
Very interesting! Not a snake but a leg less lizard 🤔
Yup, the UK’s only one!
I love reptiles, have come across many snakes and lizards in California, but never seen a legless lizard before. Your video has beautiful shots, both of the animal(s) and also the scenery. Very enjoyable to watch and listen to. I came here via your Chemosynthetic Oases video. Thank you! I hope you keep going with making these videos. Subscribing.
A well educational piece of vid " Many Thanks "
Lovely reptile
I came here from the last video and my guy grew up a lot in 4 years!🤣 Wicked content though man 👍
Thanks man! That means a lot 😁
Why do they taste the air? Also I love this video, it taught me a lot about them, thank you!
Love this ,have loads in my garden [Corfu ] just trying to explain to people they are not snakes
beautiful creatures, love them ❣️
We always have colonies of slowworms in our garden living around our compost heaps and under bags of waste foliage
Like the content
Thanks :D
I came for Slow Worms, but was greeted by Fleet Foxes.
@TheMinecraft4fun
Fleet Foxes ❤️❤️
🎵🎶🎵🎶
Thank you very much for this educational video. Its the first week of May 2023 and in one day I saw 2 slow worms in our front garden. Maybe one was pregnant as it was quite big, bigger than the second for sure. it caught me by surprise, I didn't think of picking it up as I froze as it slithered away frightened ... it felt really good to see 2 in one day after living in the SE UK for 25 years... On second thought, I don't think I'd like the poo on me lol so I'm glad I didn't pick it up.
Ooh this was cool! What's the difference between snakes and legless lizards?
Legless lizards have eyelids and visible ear holes, both of which are absent in snakes; furthermore, legless lizards can lose their tails when threatened (an act called autotomy) - snakes cannot do this :) hope this helps
Oh wow! That's really cool! I think it's interesting how they lose their tails, despite their whole body looking like a tail!
Yup, it’s completely crazy 😂 their tail makes up two thirds of their body and yet is completely detachable..
Just found one today in my compost bin. Near frightened the life out of me! 😂
Great video, thanks for this, I wa wondering what species of snakes England had, and on that list was a Slow Worm with the preface of it not being a snake, but a legless lizard, so I came to youtube to research and this video summed it up perfectly. tyvm
slowworms were an ingredient in the witches brew in Shakepseare's Macbeth.
How have I never even heard of this lol. Very strange indeed
My ex girlfriend has one of these, she was badly injured and me, my ex and her dad brought her back, she is lovely and I miss her :(
Aw it’s good you rescued her, I hope she’s still alive and healthy. Does your ex still have her?
@@NaturalWorldFacts I'm sure she does! I hope she is okay too :)
Let me know if you ever find out, I love these little creatures :)
They are so dang cute the lil darlings I live in Cornwall and as a child I saw them a lot, then I didn’t and just the other day I found a dead one in the middle of a lane where cars drive down and it’s tail was broken, sad to say she was dead when I picked her up and it made me feel pretty useless. I did pick her up and wrap her up so she wouldn’t get driven on or walked on. I love 💓 nature when it’s not cruel and us humans are f**king it up.
The extent of decline of so many incredible British species is so upsetting! Slow worms used to be everywhere, just like you say, but now they’re threatened by cars and cats that tear them open for fun. It was good of you to remove her from the road 💛! I’m hopeful now, after reading this. You seem like the kind of person who’d rescue lizards. We need more people like that. So many humans see an animal as a pest, an invader, something to be got rid of. But it’s their world! And they are what make it beautiful. They are the reason we get to live and breathe! How on earth could a species so disgusting as humanity arise from something so beautiful as the natural world? Again, you’ve given me hope. Keep on loving nature, keep on being kind to animals, and don’t you ever lose that passion :) it’s a rarity these days!
@@NaturalWorldFacts I couldn’t agree with you more, I adore animals, insects and our natural habitat. But we have destroyed this planet to the point where I’m like hang on now your complaining because a creature has come on to your property or where you live.. Please STFU they were here before we lived and breathed on this planet and yes I will stop and rescue or move any beautiful animal or insect away from being hurt or hurt again by our destructive race. Im embarrassed sometimes to be a human. I’ll always try to help our lil amazing creations 💓💓
@MooN AnGeL Your way of thinking is truly admirable, and I relate to it completely. People who see the natural world as something to push away, something to destroy, some ‘inconvenient pest’, make me so angered. Nature is the one thing in this world that, personally, gives me meaning and joy and inspiration! It motivates me, and it makes me so happy - whether I’m walking through a forest in the summer, digging in the mud for frogs and toads, or getting shat on by a legless lizard. All these experiences feel so pure, and, frankly, life-giving! Because that’s how it is, nature gives us life. We rely on it for its resources, but so many neglect to give back, to appreciate it, to see the beauty in it. Thank you so much for giving me more hope 💛💛💛💛 you’re an incredible human being, don’t be ashamed to be one, for we need people like you to lead the way if the rest of them are ever going to change.
i don't know why, but I have a "Go Herping" Vibe from this channel lol
Thanks :) GoHerping is a great channel, so that means a lot!
Nice mix of film & music at the end, what the track called?
What's their behavior like during the cold UK winters?
The host does have newt scamander vibes❤
Today I found one on happy Father’s Day on the 2012
Are these only found in the UK? Or Europe in general?
I'm from Alabama (US) so I'm almost positive we don't have these.
Although we have like 5 different poisonous snakes
I’m going to find a slow worm and keep it for a month!🤗
Found some beauties under an upturned metal bucket..Assuming its best to just leave them alone...?
Never in my life have I ever heard of the existence of "legless lizard"
I would like to do a video how to build a hibernaculum for slow worms.Would love to improve on my videos yours are alot better than mine.I wanna add music,writing improve recording get someone else to record it.
I think your videos are already incredible, don’t put yourself down :) the passion and the information are there, and they are the most important ingredients! But if you do want any tips on editing software, or where to get royalty free music, let me know, I’d be happy to help!
I adore hibernacula, definitely make one and create a video about it. People will love it :) Also I’ll be sure to link it from the description and comments of this video so people can learn about the process from you.
Oh thank you those are excellent tips.We can help each other :)
Definitely!! Just let me know when you need any tips or when the vid’s up :)
Yeah would love to improve on the videos yeah any tips would be great
One thing I noticed is that your content is classified (probably by youtube automatically) as ‘for kids’, you might want to change this in each video’s settings in the creator studio as ‘content for kids’ disables comments, sharing and saving to playlist - this means people won’t be able to engage with your videos by commenting etc.
Changing it to ‘not for kids’ helps viewers find your content, and allows them to interact with you (the only reason they implemented the feature of classifying whether you are / are not for kids was to comply with a child privacy protection act after a massive lawsuit was filed against youtube for targeting ads to children. Don’t worry - setting it as ‘not for kids’ wont put an age rating on your video or anything like that. You’ll simply be telling youtube that your content is targeted at a wider audience - and this is true.)
I saw some frozen solid ones near a lake will they survive or are hey dead now they frozen
I’m wondering what the song is? it sounds like Claire de Lune, but a nicely 70s version of it
Very informative video. I need to move a Slow Worm that is resident under a concrete slab because we are having a shed taken down. However we have a couple of Hedgehogs that visit our garden regularly and I don't want the Slow Worm to become their next meal. We have a fairly large garden. Should I simply move the Slow Worm to the long grass and let it find its own home or can I create a new residence for it?
Hello
Hey Logan! Hope you’re doing ok, did you like the video?
Yeah I've never heard of slow worms before
@@NaturalWorldFacts soon im getting some fairy shrimp and going to add them to a ecosphere
Ooo wow, you should do a video on that for sure, I’d love to see how it looks and how its done.
@@NaturalWorldFacts it not that hard im just gonna put rocks in the bottle and maybe a plant I found in a pond with some dirt and then just put some shrimp in
I just found one by road and its ill a few cuts not deep one eye only I took it home to try to save it any tips anyone please
Keep it somewhere warm, and ensure it has some water, and dig up some worms or slugs for it!!!
The cuts should heal when it next moults its skin, but the lost eye is a concern. Make sure the wound isn’t open or infected, and you might need to watch it eat to ensure it can find the worms if its eyesight is compromised.
You’ve done the right thing. Just get it warm, fed, watered, and after a couple of sheds (you’ll know when it’s shedding) it should be ready for the wild again.
@@NaturalWorldFacts thanks buddy respect your a star I will look after as best I can I think the same the eye is a BIG worry its warming up but sleeping no tung flicks yet anyway thanks again will keep you posted to how it goes 😎
No worries, well done for spotting it and taking it in. Definitely keep me posted, I’ll keep checking my phone for your comments. If you need it, my email is lr.naturecontrol@gmail.com. Send me pictures if you need to show me the slow worm’s condition and eye.
Best of luck!
@@NaturalWorldFacts sadly she did not make it but did try she hardly moved when I found her and one eye but thanks for your help all the best buddy RESPECT
I have a pet slow worm in my large tank :>
Compared to other worms, these things don't seem so slow. Should be called speed worms... or tummy lizards. Something like that.
I wonder what their closest living relative is and why they started being called slow worms. Who named them that?
hwo do u tell fof sure that one is pregnant as my garden is full of them and i live them x
Do... do brits call snakes worms?
Nope! Just the misinformed person who decided these guys should have the common name ‘slow worm’ - they’re not even snakes, but lizards
Serious question guys, can I cook it?
Do you play in the serie "The end of the F#cking day" ?
Yes, I play James!!!
That’s a lie, I don’t… but I’ve been stopped in the street by so many people thinking I was him. The actor’s name is Alex Lawther by the way 😁