Slow Worm
Based on the results of a recent DNA study, Anguis fragilis now is split into five species.
The Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) is distributed in most of Western and Central Europe. In Italy its is replaced by Anguis veronensis, in Greece – by A. graeca and A. cephallonica, but in Finland and the eastern part of Europe – by A. colchica.
The Anguis fragilis is found in Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation (Kaliningrad Oblast), Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
The population is currently stable. The main threat is the habitat loss due to agricultural intensification and urbanization, fires and re-afforestation of clearings.
Conservation
■ Listed in Appendix III of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats as a protected fauna species.
Taxonomy
■ Phylum Chordata – chordates
■ Class Reptilia – reptiles
■ Order Squamata – scaled reptiles
■ Family Anguidae – anguids
■ Species Anguis fragilis – Slow Worm
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