Examples of snake-like animals include the American eel, Asian jumping earthworm, Asian swamp eel, California legless lizard, and Oriental glass lizard.
Lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians are all legless reptiles.
Although they may look alike, there are several ways to tell these creatures apart.
For one, lizards tend to have external ear openings, unlike snakes.
Additionally, lizards have eyelids that they can blink, while snakes’ eyes are protected by a transparent scale called a shiner.
Snakes also lack limbs, while lizards and amphisbaenas have at least rudimentary legs.
Amphisbaenians have split tongues like snakes, while lizard tongues are forked.
Examples of animals like snakes
Examples of animals like snakes
Scientific nameArchispirostreptus gigasType of animalInsectDistributionThe rainforests of subtropical West Africa
The African giant black millipede is the largest millipede in the world, reaching 38 cm (15 in) 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 that smells like cyanide from its body.
This centipede is often confused with snakes due to its long, segmented body.
Scientific nameAnguilla rostrataType of animalFishDistributionVenezuela to Greenland and Iceland all along the Atlantic coast
The American eel is a long, slender 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 confused with a snake, but there are several ways to tell them apart.
For one, eels have gills, unlike snakes.
Additionally, eels have pectoral fins, while snakes have no limbs.
This creature is found in East Asia and can grow up to 40cm in length.
It has a segmented, pinkish-brown, legless body.
Its head is shaped like a cone and it has two small black eyes.
4. Asian swamp eel
4. Asian swamp eel
Scientific nameMonopterus albusType of animalFishRangenative to Asia.
It is also found in Central and South America, Africa and Australia
While its long, slender body may resemble that of a snake, the Asian swamp eel is actually a fish.
It can grow to over a meter 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 Type of animal Insect Distribution Tropical and neotropical areas worldwide, 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 mistaken for a snake because it has no legs and has a long, thin 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 nameCrocodylidaeType of animalReptileTropical 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 snouts and thick, scaly skin.
Crocodiles are predators that hunt fish, birds and other animals.
Although crocodiles don’t look like snakes, they are part of the reptile family.
8. Oriental Glass Lizard
8. Oriental Glass Lizard
Scientific nameOphisaurus ventralisType of animalReptileDistribution in southern and eastern parts of 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 snapped tail will then wiggle, distracting the predator while the lizard flees.
Despite their lack of legs, glass lizards are excellent climbers and can often be found high in trees.
9. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
9. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar
Scientific namePapilio glaucusType of animalInsectRangeAlabama, Delaware, Georgia and South Carolina
The eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillar is very snake-like.
Scientific nameDeilephila elpenorType of animalInsectDistributionParks and gardens, as well as wooded edges, rugged grasslands and sand dunes
The elephant hawk-moth caterpillar resembles a small snake with its long, slender body and green, brown, and pink coloration.
Scientific nameAnguilla anguillaType of AnimalFishVarietyfrom northern Russia and Finland to the coasts of Morocco, Egypt and even the Black Sea
The European eel is a snake-like fish that can measure up to four feet in length.
Scientific nameHebomoia glaucippeType of animalInsectDistribution throughout much of South and Southeast Asia, as well as southern China and southern Japan
The caterpillar, on the other hand, looks like a small snake with orange and black stripes on its body.
Scientific name Gymnothorax funebris Type of animal Fish Distribution in the western Atlantic Ocean from New Jersey to Bermuda, and from the northern Gulf of Mexico south to Brazil
The green moray eel is a large eel that can measure up to 8 feet in length.
The green moray eel is olive green with black spots and has a large head with sharp teeth.
Island Glass Lizard
Island Glass Lizard
Scientific nameOphisaurus compressusType of animalReptileDistribution along the coast of South Carolina into coastal 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 translucent skin, which is transparent in some places.
Glass lizards are often confused with snakes, but there are several ways to tell them apart.
For one, glass lizards have eyelids, unlike snakes.
Also, glass lizards have ear openings, unlike snakes.
Scientific nameAnguilla japonicaType of animalFishDistributionJapan, Korea, China and Vietnam, as well as the northern Philippines
The Japanese eel is a snake-like fish that can measure up to four feet in length.
It has a long, slender body and a small mouth with sharp teeth.
mimic glass lizard
mimic glass lizard
Scientific nameOphisaurus mimicusType of animalReptileDistribution 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 feet in length.
This lizard gets its name from its ability to lose its tail when caught by a predator.
The tail will continue to wiggle, distracting the predator while the lizard escapes.
Red Swallowtail Caterpillar Helen
Red Swallowtail Caterpillar Helen
Scientific namePapilio helenusType of animalInsectDistributionforests of southern India and parts of Southeast Asia
The red swallowtail caterpillar Helen looks like a miniature snake.
It is black with orange and white stripes running the length of its body.
Scientific nameAnguilla australisType of animalFishDistributionNew Zealand, Australia and throughout the South Pacific
The short-finned 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 attenuatusType of animalReptileDistribution 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 around 2.5 feet long.
The skin of a slender glass lizard is smooth and shiny, and it is usually brown or tan in color.
Scientific nameAnguis fragilisType of animalInsectDistributionHeathlands, bushy meadows, edges of woods and roundabouts
The slow worm is a legless lizard found in Europe and parts of Asia.
It can measure up to 20 inches in length and is often mistaken for a snake.
One of the main ways to tell the difference between a slow worm and a snake is that the slow worm has eyelids, unlike snakes.
Scientific namePapilio troilusType of animalInsectDistribution throughout the eastern half of the United States, from southern Canada to southern Florida (excluding the Miami and Keys area) and west to Texas
The Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar looks surprisingly like a snake.
He even has fake eye patches on his rear end that make him look like a snake’s head, with a forked tongue.
Scientific NameTestudinesType of AnimalReptileDistributionWorldwide
Although the turtle’s head may look a bit like a snake, they are actually hard-shelled reptiles.
Unlike snakes, turtles cannot coil their bodies and have limbs.
Scientific name Chalcides striatus Type of animal Reptile Distribution in the 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 on its body.
It grows to around 4 to 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.
Although there are many creatures that look like snakes, they are actually quite different.
Snakes are reptiles, while eels and caecilians are amphibians.
Additionally, snakes lack eyelids and external ear openings.
Blind snakes are perhaps the most snake-like creatures, but they are notable for 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.