Examples of animals such as snakes include the American eel, the Asian jumping worm, the Asian mud eel, the California legless lizard, and the eastern lizard.
Lizards, snakes and amphibians are legless reptiles.
While they may look similar, there are a few key 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 snakes’ eyes are protected by a clear scale called Brille.
Snakes also lack limbs, while lizards and amphibians have at least rudimentary legs.
Amphisbaenians have a forked tongue like snakes, while lizard tongues are forked.
Examples of animals like snakes
Examples of animals like snakes
Scientific Name Archispirostreptus gigas Animal Type Insect Range Rainforests of subtropical West Africa
The African giant black millipede is the largest millipede in the world, growing up to 38 cm (15 in) in length.
It is shiny black in color with red markings on the body.
It is non-venomous and does not bite, but it can release a noxious cyanide-smelling liquid from its body.
This centipede is often confused with snakes because of its long, segmented body.
Scientific name Anguilla rostrata Animal type Fish Range Venezuela 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 a few key ways to tell them apart.
First, eels have gills while snakes do not.
Furthermore, 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 in length.
It has a segmented, pink-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 nameMonopterus albusType of animalFishIt comes from 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 up to three feet long and is often sold in the pet store.
Like other eels, it has a dorsal fin that runs the length of its body.
However, unlike other eels, the Asian mud eel lacks pectoral and pelvic fins.
Scientific nameGymnophionaType of animalInsectRangetropical and neotropical regions worldwide, from Central and South America to Central Africa and Southeast Asia
Scecians are often mistaken for snakes and are actually amphibians.
They have long, cylindrical bodies and no legs, but 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 species of serpentine reptile.
It is often mistaken 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 opening and eyelids.
In addition, unlike snakes, this reptile has a forked tongue.
Scientific nameCrocodylidaeType of animalReptileRangetropical 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 snouts and thick, scaly skin.
Crocodiles are predators that hunt fish, birds and other animals.
While crocodiles do not resemble snakes, they are part of the reptile family.
8. Eastern glass lizard
8. Eastern glass lizard
Scientific nameOphisaurus ventralisType of animalReptile Range in southern and eastern Georgia and South Carolina
The eastern glass lizard is a species 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 wriggle and distract the predator while the lizard escapes.
Despite their lack of legs, glass lizards are excellent climbers and can often be found high up in trees.
9. Eastern caterpillar
9. Eastern caterpillar
Scientific NamePapilio glaucusType Animal InsectRangeAlabama, Delaware, Georgia, and South Carolina
The caterpillar of the eastern caterpillar looks a lot like a snake.
Scientific nameDeilephila elpenorAnimal typeInsectRangeParks and gardens, as well as forest edges, rough grasslands and sand dunes
The elephant hawk caterpillar looks like a tiny snake with its long, slender body and green, brown and pink coloring.
Scientific nameAnguilla anguillaType of animalFish Range from the northern ends of Russia and Finland to the coast of Morocco, Egypt and even in the Black Sea
The European eel is a serpentine fish that can grow up to four feet in length.
Scientific NameHebomoia glaucippeType Animal Insect Range from South and Southeast Asia, as well as southern China and southern Japan
The caterpillar, on the other hand, looks like a tiny 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 in 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.
Island glass lizard
Island glass lizard
Scientific nameOphisaurus compressiAnimal typeReptile Range along the coast of South Carolina in coastal and southern Georgia
The island glass lizard is a species of legless lizard native to the southeastern United States.
These lizards got 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.
First, glass lizards have lids, while snakes do not.
In addition, glass lizards have ear holes, while snakes do not.
Scientific name Anguilla japonica Animal type Fish Range Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam as well as the northern Philippines
The Japanese eel is a serpentine fish that can grow 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 animalReptileRange 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 can be found in the southeastern United States and can grow up to three feet in length.
This lizard got its name from its ability to drop its tail when caught by a predator.
The tail will continue to wag, distracting the predator while the lizard escapes.
Red Helen caterpillar
Red Helen caterpillar
Scientific name Papilio helenusType of animalInsectRangales of South India and parts of Southeast Asia
Helen’s red caterpillar looks like a miniature snake.
He is black with orange and white stripes running the length of his body.
Scientific name Anguilla australis Type of animal Fish Range New Zealand, Australia and the entire South Pacific
The shortfin eel is a snake-like fish that can be found in the Indo-Pacific region.
It can grow up 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 animalReptileRange throughout Georgia and South Carolina
The Slender Glass Lizard is a type of legless lizard.
A new tail will eventually grow.
Slender Glass Lizards are found in the southeastern United States.
They can grow up to about 2.5 feet in length.
The skin of the slender glass lizard is smooth and shiny and usually brown or tan in color.
Scientific nameAnguis fragilisAnimal typeInsectRangeheathland, tussock grassland, forest edges and slopes
The slepysh is a legless lizard found in Europe and parts of Asia.
It can grow up to 20 inches in length and is often mistaken for a snake.
One of the main ways to tell the difference between a blind man and a snake is that a blind man has eyelids while snakes do not.
Scientific namePapilio troilusType of animal insectRange throughout the eastern half of the United States from southern Canada south to southern Florida (except the Miami and Keys area) and west to Texas
The caterpillar of the spicy weevil bears a striking resemblance to a snake.
It even has fake eyespots on the back end that make it look like a snake’s head, complete with a forked tongue.
Scientific NameTestudinesType of AnimalReptileRangeWorldwide
While the head of a turtle 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 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 about 4-5 inches in length and is often mistaken for a snake.
One of the most distinctive features of the 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 cecians are amphibians.
Additionally, snakes lack eyelids and external ear openings.
Blind snakes may be the most serpentine of creatures, but they can be distinguished by their small size and lack of eyes.
When I lived in South Africa, I had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.