Joint snake

A joint snake is a mythical creature of the Southern United States, the myth likely having spread elsewhere. ^[1]

Supposedly, the snake can break itself (or be cut) into pieces and will reassemble itself.^[2] It is said that if a piece of the snake is taken and the pocket knife used to cut the snake is set down in the place of the snake's piece, the knife will join up with the whole of the snake. The myth is probably based on legless lizards that can regenerate their tails after they are broken off.^[3] Such lizards are often called joint, or, more commonly, glass snakes. May also be a reference to the Hydra in Greek Mythology. According to traveller's account their skin is as hard as parchment and as smooth as glass. It is so stiff that it can hardly bend itself. It is streaked with black and white.^[4]

Notes

↑ Field and Stream. CBS Publications. 1937.
↑ Edinburgh Field Naturalists' and Microscopical Society (1898). Transactions of the Edinburgh Field Naturalists' and Microscopical Society.
↑ "Joint Snake." Myth Beasts. 2011.
↑ Jedidiah Morse (1802). The American Universal Geography. Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews. pp. 216–.

American folklore and tall tales

Folkloric figures	Tony Beaver Br'er Rabbit Brother Jonathan Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox Casey at the Bat Casey Jones Cordwood Pete Ichabod Crane Evangeline Feathertop Febold Feboldson Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox John Henry Mose Humphrey Johnny Kaw Joe Magarac Ole Pete Pecos Bill Uncle Sam Windwagon Smith Alfred Bulltop Stormalong Ola Värmlänning Rip Van Winkle

Fearsome critters	Agropelter Axehandle hound Ball-tailed cat Cactus cat Fur-bearing trout Glawackus Hidebehind Hodag Hoop snake Jackalope Jersey Devil Joint snake Sidehill gouger Skunk ape Snallygaster Splintercat Squonk Teakettler Wampus cat

Legends	Seven Cities of Gold Lost Ship of the Desert Fountain of Youth Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine Lincoln's ghost Bloodstopping Confederate gold White Lady

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