Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 568 Location: Nottingham
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:10 am Post subject: slow worm or just big worm?
I seem to have some huge worms in my allotment - I never seem to have my camera when I dig them up. Do slow worms have any distinguishing features other than being BIG. These worms are at least 1 1/2 cm wide and about 15cm long...
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:14 am Post subject:
Slow worms are scaly, have eyes and mouth - like a lizard with no legs. I don't think you could confuse one with an earthworm. My Mum used to have a slow worm living in her compost bin!
They're smooth and dry, not really like a worm at all, most people would say "snake" when they see one for the first time.
And you can see their eyes very, very clearly - they're beautiful. They tend to be a coppery pink colour although some apparently can be blue or heavily spotted, I've never seen one like this.
But they're not necessarily big, as they take a few years to reach adult size, so you'll often come across babies as little as a few centimetres long. I think if you think these things are worms, they probably are. They're not kind of flattish and wide are they? I think flatworms are quite big and they're not good...aliens (NZ?) but I can't remember what they actually do.
You do get some *huge* earthworms though so I wouldn't rule them out.
hils
Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 568 Location: Nottingham
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:16 am Post subject:
oh!
didn't realise they had eyes etc!
Must just have some gigantic worms then!
Cheers guys
H
hils
Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 568 Location: Nottingham
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 05 9:19 am Post subject:
Bugs wrote:
e. They're not kind of flattish and wide are they? I think flatworms are quite big and they're not good...aliens (NZ?) but I can't remember what they actually do.
You do get some *huge* earthworms though so I wouldn't rule them out.
aaah I do remember them having quite flat heads - I'm going to have to go on a worm hunt after work now! I'll take my camera.....
oh!
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