While the slow worm is found throughout Scotland it appears for some unaccountable reason to be extremely rare in the Lothians with only one confirmed site. For this reason it is a priority species for LARG and we be would very pleased to hear from anyone who has seen them in the area. There are old records from Arthur's Seat and Blackford Hill but we have been unable to confirm their presence there although a project is now underway to establish whether or not some animals persist.   

Although the the slow worm looks like a small snake it is actually a lizard. At some point in this reptiles evolution, the slow worm lost the use and all external evidence of its legs, taking on the appearance of a snake. This beautiful gentle animal is usually a copper or grey colour with a distinct metallic sheen. The slow worm occurs in similar habitats to the common lizard and is quite tolerant of human presence, even turning up in gardens, allotments and other urban sites. Feeding on slugs and snails this reptile is definitely a gardeners friend!

The slow worm is a descrete animal spending much of its time underground or hiding under logs and stones and for this reason it maybe more common than currently recorded.