Examples of animals that are snakes are the American eel, the Asian jumping earthworm, the Asian woodcock, the California legless lizard, and the eastern glass lizard.
Lizards, snakes and amphibians are all legless reptiles.
Although they may look alike, there are several important ways to tell these creatures apart.
First, lizards tend to have external ear openings, while snakes do not.
In addition, lizards have eyelids with which they can blink, while the eyes of snakes are protected by a clear scale called a bril.
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 the rainforests of subtropical West 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 the body.
It is not poisonous and does not bite, but it can release a noxious liquid from its body that smells like cyanide.
This centipede is often mistaken for snakes due to its long, segmented body.
Scientific name Anguilla rostrata Type of animal Fish range Venezuela to Greenland and Iceland along the entire 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 important ways to tell them apart.
For one thing, eels have gills, while snakes do not.
Also, 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 wooden bowl
4. Asian wooden bowl
Scientific name Monopterus albus Type of animal FishRangenative 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 woodcock is actually a fish.
It can grow to be over three feet long and is often sold in pet stores.
Like other eels, it has a dorsal fin that runs along its entire body.
But 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 vision 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 lacks legs and has a long, slender body.
However, the legless California 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 animalReptiles 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 noses and thick, scaly 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 of animalReptiles Ranges throughout the 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 off its tail to escape.
The broken tail will then twist around and distract the predator while the lizard gets away.
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 Type of animal Insect area Parks and gardens, as well as forest edges, rough grassland and sand dunes
The elephant hawk caterpillar looks like a small snake with its long, slender body and green, brown and pink colors.
Scientific nameAnguilla anguillaType of animalFishRange from the northern parts of Russia and Finland all the way down to the coasts of Morocco, Egypt and even into the Black Sea
The European eel is a snake-like fish that can grow up to four feet long.
Scientific nameHebomoia glaucippe Type of animalInsect Distribution in southern and southeastern 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 Ranges in the western Atlantic, from New Jersey to Bermuda, and the northern Gulf of Mexico south to Brazil
The green moray eel 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.
Eyeglass lizard
Eyeglass lizard
Scientific nameOphisaurus compressus Type of animalReptile area along the coast of South Carolina in coastal and southern Georgia
The eyeglass lizard is a type of legless lizard native to the southeastern United States.
These lizards get their name from their transparent skin, which is transparent in some places.
Glass lizards are often mistaken for snakes, but there are several ways to tell them apart.
First, glass lizards have eyelids, while snakes do not.
Also, glass lizards have ear openings, while snakes do not.
Scientific nameAnguilla japonicaAnimal typeFish rangeJapan, 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 nameOphisaurus mimicus Type of animal Reptilian range along the coast of South Carolina and in coastal and southern 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 tall.
This lizard gets its name from its ability to drop its tail when grabbed by a predator.
The tail continues to wag, distracting the predator while the lizard flees.
Red Helen Swallowtail Caterpillar
Red Helen Swallowtail Caterpillar
Scientific name Papilio helenus Type of animal Insect area Forests of southern India and parts of Southeast Asia
The red Helen swallowtail caterpillar looks like a miniature snake.
It is black with orange and white stripes along the body.
Scientific name Anguilla australis Type of animal Fishing area New Zealand, Australia and throughout the South Pacific
The shortfin eel is a snake-like fish that can be 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 of animalReptiles Distribution throughout Georgia and South Carolina
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 long.
The skin of a Slender Glass Lizard is smooth and shiny, and it is usually brown or brown in color.
Scientific name Anguis fragilis Type of animal Insect area Heathland, tussocky grassland, woodland edges and rides
The longworm 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 name Papilio troilus Type of animal Insect Ranges throughout the eastern half of the United States from southern Canada south to southern Florida (except the Miami area and the Keys) and west to Texas
The spicebush swallowtail caterpillar looks strikingly similar to a snake.
It even has fake eye patches on the back 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 turtle’s head may look like a snake, they are actually hard-shelled reptiles.
Unlike snakes, turtles cannot coil their bodies and have limbs.
Scientific name Chalcides striatus Animal type Reptile Range 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 running along the body.
It grows to about 4-5 inches long and is often mistaken for a snake.
One of the most distinctive features of the western three-toed ham 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 caecilians are amphibians.
Additionally, 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.