How would anthropomorphic, but arm-less, snakes or eels hold things?

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In my book series (more on that here), the galaxy is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, humans, and mythical creatures. The anthropomorphic animals are similar to Narnia's talking animals, except they are given an anthropomorphic design (their upper 2 limbs are made into arms with opposable thumbs, they stand on 2 legs, and they wear clothes). However, I've run into a bit of a problem: anthropomorphic snakes and eels.



How would these limbless creatures be able to move around anthropomorphically and be able to carry and manipulate objects? I don't want to just give them arms because that just makes them look weird and ruins the aesthetic.






biology creature-design







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  • is magic avaible?
    – Sasha
    6 hours ago










  • @Sasha magic exists but using it for this purpose violates this universe's incredibly complicated magic system.
    – The Weasel Sagas
    6 hours ago










  • Related: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/55891/…
    – kingledion
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up vote
4
down vote

favorite
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In my book series (more on that here), the galaxy is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, humans, and mythical creatures. The anthropomorphic animals are similar to Narnia's talking animals, except they are given an anthropomorphic design (their upper 2 limbs are made into arms with opposable thumbs, they stand on 2 legs, and they wear clothes). However, I've run into a bit of a problem: anthropomorphic snakes and eels.



How would these limbless creatures be able to move around anthropomorphically and be able to carry and manipulate objects? I don't want to just give them arms because that just makes them look weird and ruins the aesthetic.






biology creature-design







share|improve this question























  • is magic avaible?
    – Sasha
    6 hours ago










  • @Sasha magic exists but using it for this purpose violates this universe's incredibly complicated magic system.
    – The Weasel Sagas
    6 hours ago










  • Related: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/55891/…
    – kingledion
    1 hour ago












up vote
4
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
4
down vote

favorite
1






1





In my book series (more on that here), the galaxy is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, humans, and mythical creatures. The anthropomorphic animals are similar to Narnia's talking animals, except they are given an anthropomorphic design (their upper 2 limbs are made into arms with opposable thumbs, they stand on 2 legs, and they wear clothes). However, I've run into a bit of a problem: anthropomorphic snakes and eels.



How would these limbless creatures be able to move around anthropomorphically and be able to carry and manipulate objects? I don't want to just give them arms because that just makes them look weird and ruins the aesthetic.






biology creature-design







share|improve this question















In my book series (more on that here), the galaxy is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, humans, and mythical creatures. The anthropomorphic animals are similar to Narnia's talking animals, except they are given an anthropomorphic design (their upper 2 limbs are made into arms with opposable thumbs, they stand on 2 legs, and they wear clothes). However, I've run into a bit of a problem: anthropomorphic snakes and eels.



How would these limbless creatures be able to move around anthropomorphically and be able to carry and manipulate objects? I don't want to just give them arms because that just makes them look weird and ruins the aesthetic.






biology creature-design




biology creature-design






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edited 5 mins ago









walen

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asked 6 hours ago









The Weasel Sagas

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  • is magic avaible?
    – Sasha
    6 hours ago










  • @Sasha magic exists but using it for this purpose violates this universe's incredibly complicated magic system.
    – The Weasel Sagas
    6 hours ago










  • Related: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/55891/…
    – kingledion
    1 hour ago
















  • is magic avaible?
    – Sasha
    6 hours ago










  • @Sasha magic exists but using it for this purpose violates this universe's incredibly complicated magic system.
    – The Weasel Sagas
    6 hours ago










  • Related: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/55891/…
    – kingledion
    1 hour ago















is magic avaible?
– Sasha
6 hours ago




is magic avaible?
– Sasha
6 hours ago












@Sasha magic exists but using it for this purpose violates this universe's incredibly complicated magic system.
– The Weasel Sagas
6 hours ago




@Sasha magic exists but using it for this purpose violates this universe's incredibly complicated magic system.
– The Weasel Sagas
6 hours ago












Related: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/55891/…
– kingledion
1 hour ago




Related: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/55891/…
– kingledion
1 hour ago










3 Answers
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up vote
7
down vote













Prehensile tail.



kaa from Jungle book uses prehensile tail



http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=2014



Here, Kaa from The Jungle Book demonstrates how it is done. The tail of these limbless creatures is used to grab, wrap, poke, tickle and all the other things one might do with a finger or tentacle.






share|improve this answer



























    up vote
    1
    down vote













    Well, snakes used to have four legs. This is, I believe, a skink, but you get the idea:



    enter image description here



    Here's a fossil of a four legged snake from Brazil:



    enter image description here



    So, holding things would really not be at issue if you decided to go this route.



    A typical image of an anthropomorphic snake~person might look like this:



    enter image description here



    But in the literature there are depictions of limbless snake~people:



    enter image description here



    I would suspect the hair is such a mess because, well, there's no way this poor person can get it anywhere near a brush or comb!



    enter image description here



    I rather suspect this one has a friend who's a hair dresser.



    But these poor lasses lack the ability to manipulate objects! So, without further ado, kindly allow me to introduce . . .



    Ophiunculla, an armless medusoid!



    enter image description here



    Nether regions of a serpent; upper stretches of her medusoid cousins, but in more snakey fashion, lacks limbs of any kind.



    But unlike her medusoid cousins that have arms, Ophiunculla has practiced very hard learning how to control the snakelets that grow from her head. These, she has discovered, are able to reach out and grasp objects, manipulate them and singularly or collaboratively, quite literally do anything her two armed cousins can do with their hands!



    As you can see, she's getting ready for her morning slither through the park. She's got her ophicomb in one snakelet, a stylus for jotting a quick geopoetical note in another snakelet, her cup of morning joe in a third snakelet, her mirror and favourite torc in a fourth & fifth.






    share|improve this answer





























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      1
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      I've noticed that for many animals, when they need to carry something they'll carry it in their mouths. I'm not sure if that goes well with the aesthetic.



      If they're sufficiently technologically advanced they might use some kind of cybernetic implant that gives them short-range telekinesis. H






      share|improve this answer










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      Noah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes








        up vote
        7
        down vote













        Prehensile tail.



        kaa from Jungle book uses prehensile tail



        http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=2014



        Here, Kaa from The Jungle Book demonstrates how it is done. The tail of these limbless creatures is used to grab, wrap, poke, tickle and all the other things one might do with a finger or tentacle.






        share|improve this answer
























          up vote
          7
          down vote













          Prehensile tail.



          kaa from Jungle book uses prehensile tail



          http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=2014



          Here, Kaa from The Jungle Book demonstrates how it is done. The tail of these limbless creatures is used to grab, wrap, poke, tickle and all the other things one might do with a finger or tentacle.






          share|improve this answer






















            up vote
            7
            down vote










            up vote
            7
            down vote









            Prehensile tail.



            kaa from Jungle book uses prehensile tail



            http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=2014



            Here, Kaa from The Jungle Book demonstrates how it is done. The tail of these limbless creatures is used to grab, wrap, poke, tickle and all the other things one might do with a finger or tentacle.






            share|improve this answer












            Prehensile tail.



            kaa from Jungle book uses prehensile tail



            http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=2014



            Here, Kaa from The Jungle Book demonstrates how it is done. The tail of these limbless creatures is used to grab, wrap, poke, tickle and all the other things one might do with a finger or tentacle.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 5 hours ago









            Willk

            88.7k22173381




            88.7k22173381




















                up vote
                1
                down vote













                Well, snakes used to have four legs. This is, I believe, a skink, but you get the idea:



                enter image description here



                Here's a fossil of a four legged snake from Brazil:



                enter image description here



                So, holding things would really not be at issue if you decided to go this route.



                A typical image of an anthropomorphic snake~person might look like this:



                enter image description here



                But in the literature there are depictions of limbless snake~people:



                enter image description here



                I would suspect the hair is such a mess because, well, there's no way this poor person can get it anywhere near a brush or comb!



                enter image description here



                I rather suspect this one has a friend who's a hair dresser.



                But these poor lasses lack the ability to manipulate objects! So, without further ado, kindly allow me to introduce . . .



                Ophiunculla, an armless medusoid!



                enter image description here



                Nether regions of a serpent; upper stretches of her medusoid cousins, but in more snakey fashion, lacks limbs of any kind.



                But unlike her medusoid cousins that have arms, Ophiunculla has practiced very hard learning how to control the snakelets that grow from her head. These, she has discovered, are able to reach out and grasp objects, manipulate them and singularly or collaboratively, quite literally do anything her two armed cousins can do with their hands!



                As you can see, she's getting ready for her morning slither through the park. She's got her ophicomb in one snakelet, a stylus for jotting a quick geopoetical note in another snakelet, her cup of morning joe in a third snakelet, her mirror and favourite torc in a fourth & fifth.






                share|improve this answer


























                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote













                  Well, snakes used to have four legs. This is, I believe, a skink, but you get the idea:



                  enter image description here



                  Here's a fossil of a four legged snake from Brazil:



                  enter image description here



                  So, holding things would really not be at issue if you decided to go this route.



                  A typical image of an anthropomorphic snake~person might look like this:



                  enter image description here



                  But in the literature there are depictions of limbless snake~people:



                  enter image description here



                  I would suspect the hair is such a mess because, well, there's no way this poor person can get it anywhere near a brush or comb!



                  enter image description here



                  I rather suspect this one has a friend who's a hair dresser.



                  But these poor lasses lack the ability to manipulate objects! So, without further ado, kindly allow me to introduce . . .



                  Ophiunculla, an armless medusoid!



                  enter image description here



                  Nether regions of a serpent; upper stretches of her medusoid cousins, but in more snakey fashion, lacks limbs of any kind.



                  But unlike her medusoid cousins that have arms, Ophiunculla has practiced very hard learning how to control the snakelets that grow from her head. These, she has discovered, are able to reach out and grasp objects, manipulate them and singularly or collaboratively, quite literally do anything her two armed cousins can do with their hands!



                  As you can see, she's getting ready for her morning slither through the park. She's got her ophicomb in one snakelet, a stylus for jotting a quick geopoetical note in another snakelet, her cup of morning joe in a third snakelet, her mirror and favourite torc in a fourth & fifth.






                  share|improve this answer
























                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote









                    Well, snakes used to have four legs. This is, I believe, a skink, but you get the idea:



                    enter image description here



                    Here's a fossil of a four legged snake from Brazil:



                    enter image description here



                    So, holding things would really not be at issue if you decided to go this route.



                    A typical image of an anthropomorphic snake~person might look like this:



                    enter image description here



                    But in the literature there are depictions of limbless snake~people:



                    enter image description here



                    I would suspect the hair is such a mess because, well, there's no way this poor person can get it anywhere near a brush or comb!



                    enter image description here



                    I rather suspect this one has a friend who's a hair dresser.



                    But these poor lasses lack the ability to manipulate objects! So, without further ado, kindly allow me to introduce . . .



                    Ophiunculla, an armless medusoid!



                    enter image description here



                    Nether regions of a serpent; upper stretches of her medusoid cousins, but in more snakey fashion, lacks limbs of any kind.



                    But unlike her medusoid cousins that have arms, Ophiunculla has practiced very hard learning how to control the snakelets that grow from her head. These, she has discovered, are able to reach out and grasp objects, manipulate them and singularly or collaboratively, quite literally do anything her two armed cousins can do with their hands!



                    As you can see, she's getting ready for her morning slither through the park. She's got her ophicomb in one snakelet, a stylus for jotting a quick geopoetical note in another snakelet, her cup of morning joe in a third snakelet, her mirror and favourite torc in a fourth & fifth.






                    share|improve this answer














                    Well, snakes used to have four legs. This is, I believe, a skink, but you get the idea:



                    enter image description here



                    Here's a fossil of a four legged snake from Brazil:



                    enter image description here



                    So, holding things would really not be at issue if you decided to go this route.



                    A typical image of an anthropomorphic snake~person might look like this:



                    enter image description here



                    But in the literature there are depictions of limbless snake~people:



                    enter image description here



                    I would suspect the hair is such a mess because, well, there's no way this poor person can get it anywhere near a brush or comb!



                    enter image description here



                    I rather suspect this one has a friend who's a hair dresser.



                    But these poor lasses lack the ability to manipulate objects! So, without further ado, kindly allow me to introduce . . .



                    Ophiunculla, an armless medusoid!



                    enter image description here



                    Nether regions of a serpent; upper stretches of her medusoid cousins, but in more snakey fashion, lacks limbs of any kind.



                    But unlike her medusoid cousins that have arms, Ophiunculla has practiced very hard learning how to control the snakelets that grow from her head. These, she has discovered, are able to reach out and grasp objects, manipulate them and singularly or collaboratively, quite literally do anything her two armed cousins can do with their hands!



                    As you can see, she's getting ready for her morning slither through the park. She's got her ophicomb in one snakelet, a stylus for jotting a quick geopoetical note in another snakelet, her cup of morning joe in a third snakelet, her mirror and favourite torc in a fourth & fifth.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited 2 hours ago









                    Renan

                    33.8k876172




                    33.8k876172










                    answered 5 hours ago









                    elemtilas

                    7,40211640




                    7,40211640




















                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        I've noticed that for many animals, when they need to carry something they'll carry it in their mouths. I'm not sure if that goes well with the aesthetic.



                        If they're sufficiently technologically advanced they might use some kind of cybernetic implant that gives them short-range telekinesis. H






                        share|improve this answer










                        New contributor




                        Noah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.





















                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote













                          I've noticed that for many animals, when they need to carry something they'll carry it in their mouths. I'm not sure if that goes well with the aesthetic.



                          If they're sufficiently technologically advanced they might use some kind of cybernetic implant that gives them short-range telekinesis. H






                          share|improve this answer










                          New contributor




                          Noah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.



















                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote









                            I've noticed that for many animals, when they need to carry something they'll carry it in their mouths. I'm not sure if that goes well with the aesthetic.



                            If they're sufficiently technologically advanced they might use some kind of cybernetic implant that gives them short-range telekinesis. H






                            share|improve this answer










                            New contributor




                            Noah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            I've noticed that for many animals, when they need to carry something they'll carry it in their mouths. I'm not sure if that goes well with the aesthetic.



                            If they're sufficiently technologically advanced they might use some kind of cybernetic implant that gives them short-range telekinesis. H







                            share|improve this answer










                            New contributor




                            Noah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited 1 hour ago









                            James K

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                            8,5811741






                            New contributor




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                            answered 4 hours ago









                            Noah

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                            143




                            New contributor




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                            New contributor





                            Noah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.






                            Noah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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