ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

limbless vertebrates

Limbless vertebrates are animals that have a backbone but do not have any arms or legs. They include snakes and certain species of lizards and amphibians.

Just like how we use our hands and feet to move around and do things, these animals have developed different ways to do the same without limbs.

Snakes, for example, use their bodies to crawl around and move through narrow spaces. They have muscles that allow them to push and contract their bodies, which propels them forward. They also have scales that help them grip onto surfaces.

Other limbless reptiles like lizards and amphibians either use their bodies or tails to move around, while some bury themselves in sand or soil and wait for prey to come to them.

In the world of limbless vertebrates, having no limbs is just another way to adapt and survive.