RAUK - Archived Forum - Posts by Rick Hodges:

Hi

I am monitoring an adder site where there is also a very significant slow worm population.  Adders and slow worms can be found under the same refuges and seem 'at home' together.  There are also common lizards on site, I have seen these under the same refuges as slow worms but not with adders, in fact the common lizards seem to be spaced out away from where I generally see adders.

The close, even relaxed, association between adders and slow worms makes me wonder whether adders really do prey on them as claimed in a few texts.  The curved smooth shiny surfaces of slow worms and their armour plating of osteoderms must make them difficult for an adder to bite into. 

Would be grateful to hear of your personal or second-hand observations of slow worms in adder diet.     

Suz

Many thanks for your very interesting reply.  With respect to how close together adders and slow worms are found under refuges, my statement was a little misleading.  While slow worms can be found literally on top of each other, I have always found  adders and slow worms to be at least a short distance apart (as you do) although might move towards each other when disturbed. In Kent, common lizards are quite frequently observed both under and on refuges (but as I mentioned I have not observed them where adders are present under a refuge).

Your observation that a grass snake showed no predatory interest in slow worm adults and young suggests that slow worms may be of little interest to snakes generally.  I wonder if smooth snake will take slow worms?  Has anyone out there got any clues on that?

Rick

Tony, Julian and David

Many thanks for your interesting contributions, you have added significantly to my knowledge of adder feeding habits.  Am still wondering why slow worms don't seem to be worried by the presence of adders - perhaps they are but when I see them they are keeping very still !!

Rick