Examples of snake-like animals include the American eel, Asian jumping worm, Asian marsh eel, California legless lizard, and eastern glass lizard.
Lizards, snakes, and amphibians are legless reptiles.
While they may look similar, there are several important ways to tell these creatures apart.
First, lizards have external ear openings, while snakes do not.
Additionally, lizards’ eyelids have a blink of an eye, while snakes’ eyes are protected by a transparent scale called brille.
Snakes also have no limbs, whereas both lizards and amphibians have at least rudimentary legs.
Amphisbaenians have a split tongue like snakes, while lizards have a forked tongue.
Examples of Snake-Like Animals
Examples of Snake-Like Animals
Scientific NameArchispirostreptus gigasAnimal SpeciesInsectRangethe rainforests of subtropical western Africa
The African giant black centipede is the largest centipede in the world, growing up to 38 cm (15 in) long.
It is a glossy black color with red markings on its body.
It is not poisonous and does not bite, but can release a harmful liquid from its body that smells like cyanide.
This centipede is often confused with snakes because of its long, segmented body.
Scientific NameAnguilla rostrataAnimal SpeciesFish PlateauFrom Venezuela to Greenland and Iceland along the Atlantic coastline
The American eel is a long, slender creature with a snake-like body.
It can grow up to 1.2 meters long and its skin is covered with slimy mucus.
This fish is often confused with a snake, but there are several important ways to tell them apart.
First, eels have gills while snakes don’t.
Additionally, eels have pectoral fins, while snakes have no limbs.
This creature is found in East Asia and can grow up to 40 cm in length.
It has a segmented, pinkish-brown body and no legs.
Its head is cone-shaped and has two small black eyes.
4. Asian Swamp Eel
4. Asian Swamp Eel
Scientific Ad Monopterus albus Species of Animal Fish Origin To Asia.
It is also found in Central and South America, Africa, and Australia.
Although its long, slender body resembles a snake, the Asian marsh 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 along its body.
However, unlike other eels, the Asian marsh eel lacks pectoral and pelvic fins.
Scientific NameGymnophionaAnimal SpeciesInsect Range Tropical 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 do not have external ear openings.
6. California Legless Lizard
6. California Legless Lizard
The California legless lizard is a snake-like reptile species.
It is often mistaken for a snake, as 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.
Also, this reptile has a forked tongue, unlike snakes.
Scientific NameCrocodylidaeAnimal SpeciesReptileRangeTropical 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 hunters who hunt fish, birds and other animals.
Although crocodiles are not like snakes, they are part of the reptile family.
8. Eastern Glass Lizard
8. Eastern Glass Lizard
Scientific NameOphisaurus ventralisAnimal Species Reptile Range 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 way it snaps its tail to escape when threatened.
The broken tail will then curl around, distracting the predator as the lizard flees.
Despite having no 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 glaucusAnimal SpeciesInsectBow Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, and South Carolina
The eastern tiger swallowtail caterpillar is very similar to a snake.
Scientific NameDeilephila elpenorAnimal SpeciesInsectDistance parks and gardens as well as forest edges, rugged grasslands and sand dunes
The hawk-moth caterpillar resembles a tiny snake with its long, slender body and green, brown, and pink coloration.
Scientific NameAnguilla anguillaAnimal SpeciesFishSpread AreaFrom the northern parts of Russia and Finland to the coasts of Morocco, Egypt and even the Black Sea
The European eel is a snake-like fish that can grow up to a meter long.
Scientific NameHebomoia glaucippeAnimal SpeciesInsectRangeMost of south and southeast Asia, also in southern China and southern Japan
The caterpillar looks like a tiny snake with orange and black stripes running down its body.
Scientific NameGymnothorax funebrisAnimal SpeciesFish PlateauIn the western Atlantic Ocean, from New Jersey to Bermuda and from the northern Gulf of Mexico southward to Brazil
The green moray is a large eel that can grow up to 8 feet long.
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 compressusAnimal SpeciesReptile RangeCoastal and southern Georgia along the South Carolina coast
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 that shows through in some places.
Glass lizards are often confused with snakes, but there are several ways to tell them apart.
For one thing, glass lizards have eyelids while snakes don’t.
Additionally, glass lizards have ear openings while snakes do not.
Scientific NameAnguilla japonicaAnimal SpeciesFish PlateauIn the northern Philippines as well as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam
The Japanese eel is a snake-like fish that can grow up to one meter long.
It has a long, slender body and a small mouth with sharp teeth.
Imitation Glass Lizard
Imitation Glass Lizard
Scientific NameOphisaurus mimicusAnimal SpeciesReptile 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 feet tall.
This lizard gets its name from its ability to drop its tail when caught by a predator.
The tail will continue to wiggle as the lizard flees, distracting the predator.
Red Helen Swallowtail Caterpillar
Red Helen Swallowtail Caterpillar
Scientific NamePapilio helenusAnimal SpeciesInsectRangeforests 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 along its body.
Scientific NameAnguilla australisAnimal SpeciesFish Upland throughout New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific
The short-finned eel is a snake-like fish that can be found in the Indo-Pacific region.
It can grow to be about 3 feet tall and has a dark brown or black body with small white spots.
Thin Glass Lizard
Thin Glass Lizard
Scientific NameOphisaurus attenuatusAnimal Species of Georgia and South CarolinaReptile Range
The Slender Glass Lizard is a type of legless lizard.
The new tail will eventually grow back.
Thin Glass Lizards are found in the southeastern United States.
They can grow to about 2.5 feet long.
The skin of the Slender Glass Lizard is smooth and shiny and is usually brown or tan.
Scientific NameAnguis fragilisAnimal SpeciesInsectRangeheathland, tussocky grassland, woodland edges, and toys
The slow worm 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 slow worm and a snake is that the slow worm has eyelids while snakes do not.
Scientific NamePapilio troilusAnimal SpeciesInsect Spread in the eastern half of the US from southern Canada to southern Florida (excluding the Miami area and Keys) and west to Texas
Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar strikingly resembles a snake.
It even has false eye spots on its rear end that make it look like a snake head complete with a forked tongue.
Scientific NameTestudinesAnimal SpeciesReptileRangeWorldwide
Although the turtle’s head may look a bit like a snake, they are actually hard-shelled reptiles.
Unlike snakes, turtles cannot wrap their bodies and have no limbs.
Scientific NameChalcides striatusAnimal SpeciesReptileRangethe 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 and has dark stripes on its body.
It grows to about 4-5 inches long and is often mistaken for a snake.
One of the most distinguishing features of the western three-toed skink is its tail.
This lizard can drop its tail when threatened, and over time it will grow back.
While there are many snake-like creatures, they are actually quite different.
Snakes are reptiles while eels and caecilians are amphibians.
In addition, snakes do not have 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.
While living in South Africa I had the pleasure of seeing many of these animals up close and personal.