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Runa Schwabe

  • Biodiversity Journal, 14 (3): 0481-0483

    Runa Schwabe & Thomas Ziegle
    Evidence of natural cannibalism in the slow worm, Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758 (Squamata Anguidae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2023.14.3.481.483

    ABSTRACT
    Cannibalistic behavior in the slow worm, Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758 (Squamata Anguidae), has only been documented in a few cases. The oldest report dates back more than a century, but all detailed observations available to us refer to cases under captive conditions. Herein we report about a natural case of cannibalism in the slow worm from Germany. An adult individual was observed regurgitating a previously ingested juvenile headfirst in cultural landscape east of Cologne.