Spot the Difference

I know a few of you out there don't like to see these sorts of pictures, but I need some help. Can someone please tell me, what is the difference between this...

And this?

Yes, this bright, stripey one is pretty scary isn't it?

That first one is a snake that was in our courtyard a few weeks ago, and Mum was very clear that I shouldn't go anywhere near it. So when I spotted this stripey one in the massage room, no less, just as Mum was about to start working on a client, I thought I'd better tell her about it. She obviously hadn't seen it, even though it was sitting RIGHT NEAR HER FEET!

I tiptoed over, but jumped back when it looked like it was going to strike. (Just a couple of days ago we saw a rattlesnake on one of our walks. I nearly jumped out of my fur when it rattled at me, and Mum said it was ready to strike, so I had to go on my leash and stay well clear of it.) This stripey one wasn't making a sound, but it sure did look shifty lying there all coiled up. And I'm pretty sure I saw it move. You'd have been scared too, right?

Well, it turns out that this sort of snake isn't one to be scared of at all. It's called a skipping snake and is the kind you can swing around and jump over. That's the only sort of snake you can do that with, so Mum says you shouldn't try this at home with just any snake.

So, how do you tell the difference? I've no idea, so be safe, peoples and puppies. I say, if it looks like a snake, stay away!