Examples of animals like snakes include the American eel, Asian jumping earthworm, Asian swamp eel, California legless lizard, and eastern glass lizard.
Lizards, snakes and amphibians are all legless reptiles.
Although they look similar, there are several key ways to tell these creatures apart.
For one thing, lizards tend to have external ear openings, while snakes do not.
In addition, lizards have eyelids that allow them to blink, while the eyes of snakes are protected by a clear scale called glasses.
Snakes also lack limbs, while both lizards and amphibians have at least rudimentary legs.
Amphisbaenians have a forked tongue like snakes, while the tongues of lizards are forked.
Examples of animals such as snakes
Examples of animals such as snakes
Scientific name Archispirostreptus gigas type of animal insect Range of the rainforests of subtropical West Africa
The African giant black millipede is the largest millipede in the world, growing up to 38 cm (15 inches) in length.
It is a shiny black color with red markings on its body.
It is not poisonous and does not bite, but it can release a noxious liquid from its body that smells like cyanide.
This millipede is often confused with snakes because of its long, segmented body.
Scientific name Anguilla rostrata Species Fish RangeVenezuela to Greenland and Iceland all along the Atlantic coast
The American eel is a long, thin creature with a snake-like body.
It can grow up to four feet long, and its skin is covered in slimy mucus.
This fish is often mistaken for a snake, but there are several key ways to tell them apart.
For one thing, eels have gills, while snakes do not.
Additionally, eels have pectoral fins, while snakes have no limbs at all.
This creature is found in East Asia and can grow up to 40 cm long.
It has a segmented, pinkish-brown body and no legs.
Its head is shaped like a cone and it has two small black eyes.
4. Asian swamp eel
4. Asian swamp eel
Scientific name Monopterus albus type of animal fish native to Asia.
It is also found in Central and South America, Africa and Australia
While its long, slender body resembles that of a snake, the Asian swamp elephant is actually a fish.
It can grow over three feet long and is often sold in pet stores.
Like other eels, it has a dorsal fin that runs the length of its body.
However, unlike other eels, the Asian swamp eel lacks pectoral and pelvic fins.
Scientific name Gymnophiona Type of animal Insect Rangetropical and neotropical areas around the world, from Central and South America to Central Africa and Southeast Asia
Often confused with snakes, caecilians are actually amphibians.
They have long, cylindrical bodies and no legs, but they differ from snakes in several ways.
Caecilians have poor eyesight and lack external ear openings.
6. California Legless Lizard
6. California Legless Lizard
The California legless lizard is a type of snake-like reptile.
It is often confused for a snake because it lacks legs and has a long, slender body.
However, the California legless lizard can be distinguished from snakes by its external ear openings and eyelids.
In addition, this reptile has a forked tongue, unlike snakes.
Scientific nameCrocodylidae Type of animal reptile Rangetropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia and America
Crocodiles are large reptiles that live in bodies of water such as lakes, rivers and swamps.
They have long, narrow beaks and thick, scaly skin.
Crocodiles are predators that prey on fish, birds and other animals.
While crocodiles don’t look like snakes, they are part of the reptile family.
8. Eastern glass lizard
8. Eastern glass lizard
Scientific name Ophisaurus ventralis Type of animal reptile Range through the southern and eastern portions of Georgia and South Carolina
The eastern glass lizard is a type of legless lizard.
It gets its name from the fact that, when threatened, it breaks off its tail to escape.
The broken tail will then turn around, distracting the predator while the lizard makes its escape.
Despite their lack of legs, glass lizards are excellent climbers and can often be found high up in trees.
9. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
9. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
Scientific name Papilio glaucus Type of animal insect Range Alabama, Delaware, Georgia and South Carolina
The eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillar looks a lot like a snake.
Scientific name Deilephila elpenor Species of animals Insects Range parks and gardens, as well as forest edges, rough grasslands and sand dunes
The elephant hawk-moth caterpillar looks like a small snake with its long, slender body and green, brown and pink color.
Scientific name Anguilla anguilla Species of animal Fish range from the northern reaches of Russia and Finland to the coasts of Morocco, Egypt and even in the Black Sea
The European eel is a snake-like fish that can grow up to four feet long.
Scientific name Hebomoia glaucippe Type of animal insect Range fly of South and Southeast Asia, as well as in southern China and southern Japan
The caterpillar, on the other hand, looks like a small snake with orange and black stripes running down its body.
Scientific name Gymnothorax funebris Type of animal Fish Range in the western Atlantic Ocean, from New Jersey to Bermuda, and the northern Gulf of Mexico south to Brazil
The green moray is a large eel that can grow up to 8 meters long.
The green moray is olive green with black spots and has a large head with sharp teeth.
Iceland glass lizard
Iceland glass lizard
Scientific name Ophisaurus compressus Type of animal Reptile Range along the coast of South Carolina and coastal South Georgia
The island glass lizard is a species of legless lizard that is native to the southeastern United States.
These lizards get their name from their translucent skin, which is transparent in some places.
Glass lizards are often mistaken for snakes, but there are several ways to tell them apart.
For one thing, glass lizards have eyelids, while snakes do not.
In addition, glass lizards have ear openings, while snakes do not.
Scientific name Anguilla japonica Type of animal Fish Range Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam, as well as the northern Philippines
The Japanese eel is a snake-like fish that can grow up to four feet long.
It has a long, slender body and a small mouth with sharp teeth.
Mimic glass lizard
Mimic glass lizard
Scientific name Ophisaurus mimicus Type of animal Reptile Range along the coast of South Carolina and in coastal and southern Georgia
The mimic glass lizard is a legless lizard that is often mistaken for a snake.
It can be found in the southeastern United States and can grow up to three meters long.
This lizard gets its name from its ability to throw its tail when grabbed by a predator.
The tail will continue to wag, distracting the predator while the lizard makes its escape.
Red Helen Swallowtail Caterpillar
Red Helen Swallowtail Caterpillar
Scientific name Papilio helenus Type of animal insect Range forests of South India and parts of Southeast Asia
The red helen swallowtail caterpillar looks like a miniature snake.
It is black with orange and white stripes running the length of its body.
Scientific name Anguilla australis Type of animal Fish Range New Zealand, Australia, and throughout the South Pacific
The shortfin eel is a snake-like fish found in the Indo-Pacific region.
It can grow about 3 meters long and has a dark brown or black body with small white spots.
Slim glass lizard
Slim glass lizard
Scientific name Ophisaurus attenuatus type of animal reptile range throughout Georgia and South Carolina
The Slender Glass Lizard is a type of legless lizard.
The new tail will eventually grow back.
Slender Glass Lizards are found in the southeastern United States.
They can grow up to 2.5 meters long.
The skin of a Slender Glass Lizard is smooth and shiny, and it is usually tan or tan in color.
Scientific name Anguis fragilis Type of animal Insect Range heathland, tussocky grassland, woodland edges and rides
The slowworm is a legless lizard found in Europe and parts of Asia.
It can grow up to 20 inches long and is often mistaken for a snake.
One of the main ways to tell the difference between a slowworm and a snake is that the slowworm has eyelids, while snakes do not.
Scientific name Papilio troilus Type of pet insect Range through the eastern half of the United States from southern Canada south to southern Florida (except Miami area and Keys) and west to Texas
The Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar looks strikingly similar to a snake.
It even has fake eye patches on its rear end that make it look like a snake’s head, complete with a forked tongue.
Scientific name Testudines Type of animal Reptile Range Worldwide
While the head of the turtle looks a bit like a snake, they are actually reptiles with hard shells.
Unlike snakes, turtles cannot coil up their bodies and have limbs.
Scientific name Chalcides striatus Type of animal Reptile Rangethe Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and parts of northwestern Italy
The western three-toothed skink is a small lizard found in the western United States and parts of Canada.
This lizard is brown or gray in color with dark stripes running down the body.
It grows about 4-5 inches long and is often mistaken for a snake.
One of the most distinctive features of the western three-toed skink is its tail.
This lizard can drop its tail when threatened and it will grow back over time.
While there are many creatures that look like snakes, they are actually quite different.
Snakes are reptiles, while eels and caecilians are amphibians.
In addition, snakes lack eyelids and external ear openings.
Blind snakes may be the most snake-like creatures, but they can be distinguished by their small size and lack of eyes.
Living in South Africa, I have had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.