Anguis fragilis

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/anguis-fragilis

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Anguis fragilis
2. What is the conservation status?Least Concern (IUCN)
3. Why does Anguis fragilis have no legs?Its legs disappeared over time so it can burrow and hide more easily. This helps it live in places with lots of ground cover.
4. Where can I find Anguis fragilis?It lives in most of Europe, parts of North Africa, and Western Asia. You can find it in woodlands, gardens, parks, and old orchards.

Convergent Evolution: The independent evolution of similar features in species of different lineages.
Caudal Autotomy: The voluntary shedding of a tail as a defense mechanism, common in lizards.
Fossorial: Adapted for digging and living underground.
Mesic Habitats: Environments characterized by moderate moisture levels, neither extremely wet nor extremely dry.