The blind worm (Anguis fragilis) is distinguished from snakes by two characteristics: blind worms can close their eyelids and, when in danger, shed their tail, which does not fully regenerate. The body of the blind worm is covered by perfectly smooth scales like roof tiles. The basic color of its body is brown, though gray or copper tones may predominate. Males are usually of a uniform color and darker than females, sometimes speckled with blue spots. Lighter females have darker flanks and a stripe along the back. Adults are 40 to 50 cm long. Slow worms go hunting at dawn, preying on insects and spiders, but they prefer to feed on earthworms and slugs. Sometimes you can observe the blind worm rubbing its head left and right on the grass or moss, thereby wiping the slime from the snail it has swallowed with its mouth. During the day it hides from predators under stones and branches or in burrows that it digs itself.
The habitat of the blind worm, which is the only representative of its family in Slovenia, includes open forests, forest edges and meadows, as well as green spaces in human settlements, such as living hedges, parks and gardens. The presence of the blind worm in our garden can delight us, as it will protect many heads of lettuce from voracious slugs. It prefers moist environments the most.
The blind worm is among the most common reptiles here, as it is found throughout Slovenia. It occupies a large part of Europe, avoiding only its extreme north, southwest and southeast.
Slow worms are either viviparous or oviparous; a female in July or August bears 6 to 12 live young, or during this time lays 5 to 25 eggs. In nature they live on average about 10 years, in captivity up to 50 years. Its awkwardness and slowness match its gentle nature. The blind worm is a peaceful animal that never bites in self-defense. It deceives a predator with the shed tail, which writhes and coils, while the blind worm escapes to cover. However, it often repels an intruder with a foul-smelling secretion from its cloaca.
The blind worm is legally protected in Slovenia by the Decree on Protected Free-Living Animal Species. In the Red List of Slovenian reptiles it is defined as a species of least concern.
