What is the difference between a limbless lizard and a snake?

Question

Seems the same for me.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18919206/

how do they know, then, that this lizard is a lizard, and not a snake?

Answer 1

One of the main physical differences that you look for is the fact that the lizard, regardless if it has legs or not, always has eyelids. A snake does not. They have a piece of skin called the spectacle that acts as an eyelid. Also, the head of a legless lizard looks like, well... a lizard, and is definitely different than that of a snake. Internally, snakes have a very modified skull that is light and flexible, allowing the consumption of food that is much larger than their head. A legless lizard's skull is more solid and typical of your legged lizard. Legless lizards are also not able to coil as tightly as a snake as well.

Answer 2

It starts with the European legless lizard (sheltopusik) that is a much more recent evolution on the lizard evolution tree while snakes have evolved earlier from a much older ancestor and have many snake specific characteristics. The Indian legless lizard may be a cousin of the European one or a different evolution.

"The sheltopusik, also known as the European legless lizard....Not having limbs doesn't make something a snake, however; snakes have many other special morphological features not present in animals like lizards. For instance, snakes have a very light, mobile skull that allows them to swallow food items much larger than their head; most lizards have a much less mobile skull designed for biting and chewing instead of just swallowing. Similarly, a lizard like the sheltopusik has an external opening for the ear, and eyelids that can be raised and lowered (like most animals); snakes lack any external vestiges of an ear and have specially modified eyelids known as spectacles that permanently cover they eye. Movement in limbless lizards and snakes is also very different; a sheltopusik moves in a somewhat stiff, mechanical manner and is not capable of forming the tight coils so typical of snakes.

Answer 3

Even though they are morphologically similar, they come from different evolutionary pathways. This is an example of convergent evolution. It explains within the article that snakes diverged from other lizards at an earlier stage of species development. Modern limbless lizards are more closely related to limbed lizards; presumably, there are internal physiological similarities that bear this out.

Answer 4

It is all in the genes -- what looks like one thing can easily be another. Convergent evolution can make things that are different end up looking the same, to fill a similar ecological niche.

Answer 5

are u retarded ??? no somewhat i propose as though u could be dumb adequate to not no the diffrence between a lizard and a snake i propose you're able to desire to be blonde ok enable me placed it less complicated lizards have feet snakes do not hassle-free i think of so......