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Evidence of Slowworm in Ireland?

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  • 05-07-2011 11:43pm
    #1
    jmkennedyie
    Registered Users Posts: 678 ✭✭✭


    A thread inspired by references on this thread on Common Lizard.

    Could folks please post any evidence they have of existance of slowworm in the wild in Ireland...Sightings? Photos? Videos?

    I know little about fish and less about reptiles but I notice that our eels can travel overland so something to bear in mind.

    The closest thing I can find to evidence is a NPWS site synopsis for the East Burren:

    "The site [all the high land in the east of the burren] also supports the only known populations of Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) in Ireland - this lizard is believed to have been introduced in about 1970."

    Anyone seen them there or anywhere else? I suggest not to post precise locations.

    Thanks!


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    #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Yeah , i have not heard much about them , but they seem to be in lots of places in the UK. I am going to take a trip up there soon, i really hope to get some pictures.


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    #3
    swifts need our help!
    Registered Users Posts: 944 ✭✭✭swifts need our help!


    A friend lives on the west edge of the burren. His works as a gardener and will ask hime to look out for them


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    #4
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    You answered your own query really. They are only known to be in the East Burren and even they were introduced only 40 years ago.


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    #5
    Sundew
    Registered Users Posts: 1,554 ✭✭✭Sundew


    jmkennedyie wrote: »
    A

    Could folks please post any evidence they have of existance of slowworm in the wild in Ireland...Sightings? Photos? Videos?


    jm: My husband and I saw a slow worm in The Burren a few years ago. We were walking in a low valley and my husband screamed about seeing a snake "He's a Dub! :D
    Unfortunately by the time I had my camera at the ready it had "slithered" into the undergrowth. I knew about these lizards but my husband didn't know such a thing existed and i had to convince him it was NOT a snake that he saw :)


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    #6
    Eddy Hill
    Closed Accounts Posts: 37 ✭Eddy Hill


    jmkennedyie wrote: »
    A thread inspired by references on this thread on Common Lizard.

    Could folks please post any evidence they have of existance of slowworm in the wild in Ireland...Sightings? Photos? Videos?

    I know little about fish and less about reptiles but I notice that our eels can travel overland so something to bear in mind.

    The closest thing I can find to evidence is a NPWS site synopsis for the East Burren:

    "The site [all the high land in the east of the burren] also supports the only known populations of Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) in Ireland - this lizard is believed to have been introduced in about 1970."

    Anyone seen them there or anywhere else? I suggest not to post precise locations.

    Thanks!


    Yes there are slow worm are in Co Clare . Certainly introduced but surviving and breeding there , Contact the Biodiversity Officer in Co Clare for more info


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    #7
    jmkennedyie
    Registered Users Posts: 678 ✭✭✭jmkennedyie


    Cool. It was just a curiosity of mine...I was afraid that all the web references could be traced back to some single sighting from the 70's. (The story I heard was of a JCB driver doing some digging / site clearance in the burren who disturbed some number of them...)

    Thanks for the replies.


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    #8
    Sundew
    Registered Users Posts: 1,554 ✭✭✭Sundew


    They certainly are breeding. I think it was about 3/4 years ago during the Summer that we spotted our fellow. I didn't bother reporting the sighting though and probably should have!


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    #9
    snowstreams
    Registered Users Posts: 1,315 ✭✭✭snowstreams


    They seem to live quite a long time. One specimen apparently lived for 54years. So some of the ones introduced in 1970 could still be alive. They must reproduce slowly too, since they are only in the eastern part of the burren.
    surely they would spread to all parts of the burren in time because its seems like ideal habitat for them.


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    #10
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    snowstreams wrote: »
    They seem to live quite a long time. One specimen apparently lived for 54years. So some of the ones introduced in 1970 could still be alive. They must reproduce slowly too, since they are only in the eastern part of the burren.
    surely they would spread to all parts of the burren in time because its seems like ideal habitat for them.

    Slow Worms can live to be around 50 years old, The males are sexually mature at 3 to 4 years, and the females at 4 or 5 years. They give birth to live young and will produce 6 to 10 young annually. So, not so slow!


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    #11
    snowstreams
    Registered Users Posts: 1,315 ✭✭✭snowstreams


    That is a fairly good reproduction rate. I must keep an eye out for them basking next time I'm in the burren on a sunny day so.


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    #12
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Remeber too that they have a very high predation rate with them being lost to Crows, Raptors, Foxes and, apparently, Cats.


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