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Slow-worm


Slow-worm
Photo Information
Copyright: Tadeusz Sikorski (cysorz) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 32 W: 3 N: 71] (464)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-22
Categories: Reptiles
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Amphibians and reptiles of Poland, Reptiles - Lizards, Chuckwallas, Agamas & Tegus 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-22 5:19
Viewed: 6335
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Polish]
Anguis fragilis (the slow worm, slow-worm, slowworm, blindworm or blind worm) is a limbless reptile native to Eurasia.
Slow-worms are lizards. The skin of the varieties of slow-worm is smooth with scales that do not overlap one another. Like some other lizards, slow-worms autotomize, meaning that they have the ability to shed their tails in order to escape predators. The tail regrows, but seldom to its former length.
These reptiles are active during the day and like to bask in the sun. They are carnivorous and, because they feed on slugs and worms, they can often be found in long grass.
The females give birth to live young (viviparous birth). In the days leading up to birth the female can often be seen basking in the sun on a warm road.
They are common in gardens and can be encouraged to enter and help remove pest insects by placing black plastic or a piece of tin on the ground. On warm days one or more slow worms will often be found underneath these collectors of heat.
Although these lizards are often mistaken for snakes, there are a number of features that differentiate them from snakes. The most important is they have small eyes with eyelids that blink. This is a feature that is not found in snakes. They also have notched tongue rather than a forked tongue, which is a common feature of a snake. They shed their skin in patches like other lizards, rather than the whole skin as most snakes do.
Adult slow-worms grow to be about 50 cm long and are known for their exceptionally long life; it has been said that a slow-worm is the longest living lizard, living about thirty years in the wild and up to fifty-four years in captivity. The female often has a stripe along the back and the male may have blue spots. (Wikipedia)
eqshannon, carpnter, IulianGherghel, Max31, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cicindela: cysorzcysorz 1 10-14 12:10
To IulianGherghel: cysorzcysorz 1 07-28 01:54
To demeve: cysorzcysorz 1 07-23 11:14
To eqshannon: cysorzcysorz 1 07-22 06:56
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Critiques [Translate]

I can see where they would be confused as snakes. It was certainly what I fist thought until reading your amazing notes. Nice capture with focus on the front of the creature....

Bob

Hello Tadeusz,
Very nice close up, very beautiful
Wonderful POV and composition, lovely colors
Very sharp and well focused.. Well Done

Everton.

Hi,
Beautiful shot of this Anguis.
Great pov and colors.
Regards,
Iulian

Witam Tadeuszu!
Padalec to byla chyba pierwsza jaszczurka jaka w zyciu widzialem, ale mimo to nigdy w Polsce nie udalo mi sie zrobic temu zwierzakowi dobrego zdjecia...
Twoja fotka ma ciekawa perspektywe, a punkt widzenia "z wysokosci padalca" jest naprawde super. Dobre detale i kolorystyka, takze notka jest szczegolowa :)
Serdeczni pozdrawiam,
Radek

PS. Jesli nie masz nic naprzeciw pozwole sobie dodac to zdjecie do tematu "Amphibians and reptiles of Poland" :>

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