Examples of snake-like animals include the American eel, Asian jumping worms, Asian swamp eel, California legless lizard, and eastern glass lizard.
Lizards, snakes, and amphibians are all legless reptiles.
Although they may 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 with which they can blink, while snakes’ eyes are protected by a clear scale called the brille.
Snakes also have rudimentary legs, while lizards and amphibians have at least rudimentary legs.
Amphibians have a forked tongue like snakes, while lizard tongues are forked.
Examples of Animals Like Snakes
Examples of Animals Like Snakes
Scientific NameArchispirostreptus gigas Type Insect AnimalRange 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 glossy black color with red markings on its body.
It is non-venomous and does not bite, but it can release a poisonous liquid from its body that smells like cyanide.
This millipede is often confused with snakes because of its long, segmented body.
Scientific NameAnguilla rostrataType of AnimalFishRangeVenezuela to Greenland and Iceland 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 legs at all.
This creature is found in East Asia and can grow up to 40 cm in length.
It has a segmented, brown-pink body and no legs.
Its head is shaped like a cone and it has two small black eyes.
4. Asian Marsh Eel
4. Asian Marsh Eel
Scientific NameMonopterus albusType of Animal Fish Range to Asia.
It is also found in Central and South America, Africa and Australia
Although its long, slender body may resemble that of a snake, the Asian swamp eel is actually a fish.
It can grow to over three feet in length and is often sold in the pet trade.
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 Animal Type Insects Diverse and neotropical areas around the world, from Central and South America to Central Africa and South East Asia
Often mistaken for snakes, caecilians are actually amphibians.
They have long, cylindrical bodies and no legs, but differ from snakes in many ways.
Caecilians have poor eyes and do not have external ear openings.
6. California Leg Lizard
6. California Leg Lizard
The California legless lizard is a type of snake-like reptile.
A snake is often confused because it has no 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.
Crocodylidae Scientific Name Type of Animal Reptile Various regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas
Crocodiles are large reptiles that live in bodies of water such as lakes, rivers and swamps.
They have long, narrow noses and thick, smooth skin.
Crocodiles are predators that hunt for fish, birds and other animals.
Although crocodiles do not resemble snakes they are part of the reptile family.
8. Eastern Glass Lizard
8. Eastern Glass Lizard
Scientific NameOphisaurus ventralis Type Animal Range Reptile throughout southern and eastern Georgia and South Carolina
The Eastern glass lizard is a type of legless lizard.
It gets its name from the fact that if threatened, it will break its tail to escape.
The severed tail will then swish around, distracting the predator while the lizard escapes.
Despite their lack of legs, glass lizards are excellent climbers and are often found high in trees.
9. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
9. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
Scientific NamePapilio glaucus Type of AnimalInsectRangeAlabama, Delaware, Georgia, and South Carolina
The eastern tiger-bellied caterpillar looks very similar to a snake.
Scientific Name Deilephila elpenorType Insect Insect Parks and gardens, as well as woodland edges, rough grassland, and sand dunes
The caterpillar of the elephant hawkmoth looks like a small snake with its long, slender body and green, brown and pink colour.
Scientific NameAnguilla anguilla Type of AnimalFish Range from the northern parts of Russia and Finland all the way down to the coasts of Morocco, Egypt, and even within the Black Sea
The European eel is a snake-like fish that can grow up to four feet in length.
Scientific NameHebomoia glaucippe Type of AnimalInsectRangemuch south and south-east 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 NameGymnothorax funebris Type of AnimalFishRangein the western Atlantic, 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 feet in length.
The green moray is olive green with black spots and has a large head with sharp teeth.
Island Glass Lizard
Island Glass Lizard
Scientific NameOphisaurus compressus Type of AnimalReptileRange along the coast of South Carolina in the coast and southern Georgia
The island glass lizard is a type of legless lizard native to the southeastern United States.
These lizards get their name from their transparent skin, which is noticeable 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.
Additionally, glass lizards have ear openings, while snakes do not.
Scientific NameAnguilla japonica Type AnimalFishRangeJapan, Korea, China, and Vietnam, as well as northern Philippines
The Japanese eel is a snake-like fish that can grow up to four feet in length.
It has a long, slender body and a small mouth with sharp teeth.
Imitation Glass Lizard
Imitation Glass Lizard
Scientific NameOphisaurus mimic Type of AnimalReptileRangealong the coast of South Carolina and on the coast and south of Georgia
The glass lizard is a legless lizard that is often mistaken for a snake.
It is found in the southeastern United States and can grow up to three feet in length.
This lizard gets its name from its ability to throw its tail when a predator grabs it.
The tail will continue to wag, distracting the predator while the lizard escapes.
Helen’s Red Swallowtail Caterpillar
Helen’s Red Swallowtail Caterpillar
Scientific Name Papilio helenus Type of Animal Insect Range forests of southern India and parts of southeast Asia
The yellow Helen red caterpillar looks like a small snake.
It is black with orange and white stripes running along its body.
Scientific NameAnguilla australisType AnimalFishRange New Zealand, Australia, and throughout the South Pacific
The gold eel is a snake-like fish found in the Indo-Pacific region.
It can grow to about 3 feet long and has a dark brown or black body with small, white spots.
Slender glass lizard
Slender glass lizard
Scientific NameOphisaurus attenuatus Type 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 to about 2.5 feet in length.
The skin of a Slim Glass Lizard is smooth and shiny, and is usually brown or tan in colour.
Scientific NameAnguis fragilisType of Insect AnimalRange of moorland, tussock grassland, woodland edges, and avenues
The sheepsnake 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 sheepsnake and a snake is that the sheepsnake has eyelashes, while snakes do not.
Scientific Name Papilio troilus Type of Animal Insect Range throughout the eastern half of the United States from southern Canada to southern Florida (except the Miami and Keys area) and west to Texas
The spicebush bubble caterpillar looks strikingly snake-like.
It even has fake eye spots on its rear end that make it look like a snake’s head, with a forked tongue.
Scientific Name TestsTypes of AnimalsReptilesWorld Range
Although the head of the turtle may look a bit like a snake, they are actually reptiles with hard shells.
Unlike snakes, turtles cannot coil their bodies and have limbs.
Scientific Name Chalcides striatus Animal Type Reptile Range Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and parts of northwestern Italy
The western three-toed 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 its body.
It grows to be about 4-5 inches long and is often mistaken for a snake.
One of the most prominent features of the three-toed western skink is its tail.
This lizard can drop its tail when threatened and it will grow back over time.
Although there are many creatures that resemble snakes, they are actually quite different.
Snakes are reptiles, while eels and lizards are amphibians.
Additionally, snakes lack eyelashes and external ear openings.
Blind snakes are perhaps 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.