What is the Difference Between Snake and Lizard?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between snakes and lizards is that snakes do not have legs, while lizards do. Additionally, there are several other morphological and behavioral differences between these two reptile groups:
- Ears: Lizards have external ear openings, allowing them to hear sounds. In contrast, snakes do not have external ear openings, and they hear through vibrations from the ground, detecting sounds through their skull bones.
- Eyelids: Lizards have moveable eyelids, which allow them to close their eyes. Snakes, on the other hand, have no eyelids or transparent scales covering their eyes.
- Tongues: Snakes are known for their forked tongues, which are used for sensing their environment. Legless lizards lack the forked tongue and instead have rounded tongues.
- Body Shape: Lizards typically have an elongated body and tail, with well-developed clawed limbs for climbing and digging. In contrast, snakes have long, cylindrical bodies without limbs.
- Locomotion: While lizards move on four limbs, snakes move by undulating their bodies and using their ventral scales for traction.
- Tail: Lizards can shed their tails when agitated or in danger, a defense mechanism known as autotomy. Snakes, however, shed their skin.
- Lungs: Most lizards have two equally developed lungs, while in snakes, only one lung is functional, with the left lung being greatly reduced.
- Reproduction: The majority of lizards are oviparous, laying eggs protected by thin shells on land.
- Diet: Lizards are mainly carnivorous, feeding on insects, worms, and other small animals.
In summary, while lizards and snakes share some similarities as reptiles, they have distinct differences in their body structures, sensory abilities, and behaviors.
Comparative Table: Snake vs Lizard
Here is a table highlighting the differences between snakes and lizards:
| Feature | Snakes | Lizards |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Limbless, elongate reptiles belonging to the suborder Serpentes | Reptiles belonging to the suborder Lacertilia, often with four limbs |
| Body Structure | Tail shorter than body, pelvic bones reduced or absent, limbs lost | Body and tail length is usually equal, pelvic bones present, limbs present |
| Bones | Skull bones less movable, quadrate bone not firmly attached to skull | Skull bones movable, quadrate firmly attached to skull |
| Scales | Smooth or ridged scales | Dry scales, may have spiny projections |
| Ears | Lack external ears, but have an ear bone to detect sound vibrations | External ears present, may be hidden by feathers or tufts of scales depending on species |
| Heart | Three-chambered heart | Three-chambered heart |
| Reproduction | Most lay eggs, some give birth to live young | Some lay eggs, some give birth to live young |
| Length | Varies from tiny to several feet long | Varies from few inches to 10 feet long (Komodo dragon) |
Despite some superficial similarities, snakes and lizards are not closely related and form separate groups (apobaramins) within the squamate reptiles.
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