Examples of animals like snakes include the American eel, Asian jumping earthworm, Asian swamp eel, California legless lizard, and eastern glass lizard.
Lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians are all legless reptiles. While 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.
Additionally, lizards have eyelids that they can blink, while the eyes of snakes are protected by a clear scale called the brille. Snakes also lack limbs, while both lizards and amphisbaenians have at least rudimentary legs.
Amphisbaenians have a split tongue like snakes, while the tongues of lizards are forked. Although they may resemble each other, these three animal groups are actually quite different.
Examples of Animals Like Snakes
1. African Giant Black Millipede
| Scientific Name | Archispirostreptus gigas |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | the rainforests of subtropical western Africa |
The African giant black millipede is the largest millipede in the world, growing up to 38 cm (15 in) in length. It is a shiny black color with red markings on its body. This millipede is found in rainforests across Africa.
It is not venomous and does not bite, but it can release a noxious liquid from its body that smells like cyanide. This millipede is often confused with snakes because of its long, segmented body.
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2. American Eel
| Scientific Name | Anguilla rostrata |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | Venezuela to Greenland and Iceland all along the Atlantic coastline |
The American eel is a long, thin creature with a snake-like body. It can grow to be 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 do not have any limbs at all.
3. Asian Jumping Earthworm
| Scientific Name | Amynthas agrestis |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | on the soil surface and in the leaf litter |
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 shaped like a cone and it has two small black eyes.
4. Asian Swamp Eel
| Scientific Name | Monopterus albus |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | native 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 be over three feet long 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.
5. Caecilians
| Scientific Name | Gymnophiona |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | tropical and neotropical areas around the world, from Central and South America to Central Africa and Southeast Asia |
Often mistaken for 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. Instead of scales, their skin is covered in horny plates.
6. California Legless Lizard
| Scientific Name | Anniella pulchra |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | coastal dune, valley-foothill, chaparral, and coastal scrub habitats |
The California legless lizard is a type of snake-like reptile. It is often confused 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 openings and eyelids. Additionally, this reptile has a forked tongue, unlike snakes.
7. Crocodiles
| Scientific Name | Crocodylidae |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | tropical 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, scaled skin. Crocodiles are predators that hunt for fish, birds, and other animals.
While crocodiles do not resemble snakes they are part of the reptile family.
8. Eastern Glass Lizard
| Scientific Name | Ophisaurus ventralis |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | throughout the southern and eastern portions 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 writhe around, distracting the predator while the lizard makes its getaway.
Despite their lack of legs, glass lizards are excellent climbers and can often be found high in trees. They are also proficient swimmers and can hold their breath for up to an hour.
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. It is green with yellow stripes and has fake eyespots on its tail.
10. Elephant Hawk-Moth Caterpillar
| Scientific Name | Deilephila elpenor |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | parks and gardens, as well as woodland edges, rough grassland, and sand dunes |
The elephant hawk-moth caterpillar looks like a tiny snake with its long, slender body and green, brown, and pink coloration. This creature is actually a moth larva, and it will spin a cocoon when it’s time to pupate.
11. European Eel
| Scientific Name | Anguilla anguilla |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | from the northern reaches 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. It is found in fresh and brackish water throughout Europe and North Africa.
12. Great Orange Tip Caterpillar
| Scientific Name | Hebomoia glaucippe |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | much of south and southeast Asia, as well as in southern China and southern Japan |
The great orange tip butterfly is a beautiful creature found in India. The caterpillar, on the other hand, looks like a tiny snake with orange and black stripes running down its body.
13. Green Moray
| Scientific Name | Gymnothorax funebris |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | in the western Atlantic Ocean, from New Jersey to Bermuda, and the northern Gulf of Mexico southward to Brazil |
The green moray is a large eel that can grow up to 8 feet long. It is found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. The green moray is olive green with black spots and has a large head with sharp teeth.
14. Island Glass Lizard
| Scientific Name | Ophisaurus compressus |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | along the coast of South Carolina in coastal and southern Georgia |
The island glass lizard is a type of legless lizard that is native to the southeastern United States. These lizards get their name from their translucent skin, which is see-through 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.
15. Japanese Eel
| Scientific Name | Anguilla japonica |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | Japan, 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 in length. It has a long, slender body and a small mouth with sharp teeth. Although it is sometimes called an eel, the Japanese eel is not closely related to true eels.
16. Mimic Glass Lizard
| Scientific Name | Ophisaurus mimicus |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| 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 in length. This lizard gets its name from its ability to shed its tail when grabbed by a predator. The tail will continue to wiggle, distracting the predator while the lizard makes its escape.
17. Red Helen Swallowtail Caterpillar
| Scientific Name | Papilio helenus |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | 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 running the length of its body. This caterpillar is found in North America east of the Rocky Mountains.
18. Short-Finned Eel
| Scientific Name | Anguilla australis |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | New Zealand, Australia, and throughout 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 long and has a dark brown or black body with small, white spots.
19. Slender Glass Lizard
| Scientific Name | Ophisaurus attenuatus |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | throughout Georgia and South Carolina |
The Slender Glass Lizard is a type of legless lizard. It gets its name from the fact that, if grabbed by the tail, it will sometimes break off its tail and wriggle away. The new tail will eventually grow back.
Slender Glass Lizards are found in the southeastern United States. They can grow to be about 2.5 feet long.
The skin of a Slender Glass Lizard is smooth and shiny, and it is usually brown or tan in color. It has small scales that are arranged in rows down its back.
20. Slow Worm
| Scientific Name | Anguis fragilis |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | heathland, tussocky grassland, woodland edges, and rides |
The slowworm is a legless lizard that is 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 slowworm and a snake is that the slowworm has eyelids, whereas snakes do not.
21. Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
| Scientific Name | Papilio troilus |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | throughout the eastern half of the United States from southern Canada south to southern Florida (except the Miami area and Keys) and west to Texas |
The spicebush swallowtail caterpillar looks strikingly similar to a snake. It even has fake eyespots on its hind end that make it look like a snake’s head, complete with a forked tongue.
22. Turtles
| Scientific Name | Testudines |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | Worldwide |
While the turtle’s head may look a bit like a snake, they are actually reptiles with hard shells. Unlike snakes, turtles cannot coil their bodies and have limbs.
23. Western Three-Toed Skink
| Scientific Name | Chalcides striatus |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and parts of northwestern Italy |
The western three-toed skink is a small lizard that is found in the western United States and parts of Canada. This skink has two toes on each front foot and one toe on each back foot, hence its name.
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 distinguishing 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.
Conclusion
While 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.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.