Fire Snake

Fire Snakes (earlier parsed as Firesnakes, though Fire Snake was in use initially), are long snake-like creatures with bodies made up of fireballs. They have appeared as uncommon enemies in several Super Mario games (mostly in desert-themed levels).

Super Mario Bros. 3
Firesnakes first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3 in Desert Land. If a Firesnake sees Mario, it begins to chase him by bouncing and trying to collide with him. A Firesnake can only be defeated by either being hit by a Shell or Hammer, by having Mario touch it while he is invincible, by being hit by Mario's tail as either Raccoon Mario or Tanooki Mario, or a stomp from Statue Mario. He can also lead them into a pit (though they reappear after a few seconds). In the original NES version, Firesnakes do not have eyes, whereas they have them in Super Mario All-Stars and Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3.

Super Mario World
In Super Mario World, an enemy of the same name appears in the Special Zone stage Outrageous. As it hops along, it leaves behind small, indestructible fires that fade away after a few seconds.

New Super Mario Bros.
Fire Snakes also appear as uncommon enemies in New Super Mario Bros. in World 2-5. These Fire Snakes try to attack Mario by chasing him while bouncing, like in Super Mario Bros. 3. The Fire Snakes of New Super Mario Bros. can be defeated by a Shell or by being touched by Invincible Mario or Mega Mario. Like in Super Mario Bros. 3, they can fall into an abyss and reappear up to two times after a few seconds. They are depicted with eyes similar to re-releases of Super Mario Bros. 3.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Fire Snakes reappear in the game New Super Mario Bros. Wii, acting like they did in New Super Mario Bros., but with a new ability. After one or two hops, their heads enlarge, then go back to normal size. They only appear in World 2-3 and can be defeated with a Star or ice balls.

New Super Mario Bros. 2
Fire Snakes reappear in the Nintendo 3DS title New Super Mario Bros. 2. This time, they also appear in lava-themed levels, and behave the same as they do in New Super Mario Bros. They appear in World 2-4 and.

New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U / New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Fire Snakes reappear in New Super Mario Bros. U acting exactly as in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. They have their own level called Fire Snake Cavern located in Layer-Cake Desert in which they are very common alongside the Fire Bros, and can now be eaten by any Baby Yoshi. Fire Snakes are also pushed back if Mario uses a Glowing Baby Yoshi. Fire Snakes also appear in New Super Luigi U, where they appear infrequently in Light-Up-Lift Tower. Both roles are reprised in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.

The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3
Firesnakes make a few minor appearances in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3.

Princess Toadstool for President
In "Princess Toadstool for President", Mario and Luigi end up in Dark Land and while there, they get ambushed by many enemies, including a Firesnake.

Crimes R Us
In "Crimes R Us", the Koopalings break in to the Mushroom Kingdom Treasury, using a Chain Chomp to open the barred window, a Ptooie to blast a hole in the wall, and a Firesnake to bust a hole in the roof.

Recycled Koopa
In "Recycled Koopa", a Koopa Zombie attacks Luigi with three Firesnakes which get out of his case.

Nintendo Adventure Books
In Double Trouble, a swarm of Firesnakes can be encountered in the Koopahari Desert if Mario decides to take a shortcut to Fort Koopa. Depending on how an accompanying puzzle is solved, Mario either dodges and escapes them, or is sent running after being singed twice, losing his Super Mushroom in the process. Far fewer Firesnakes can be encountered on the main road to Fort Koopa, and Mario can easily avoid them.

Two Firesnakes appear as competitors in the International Mushroom Games in Leaping Lizards, being members of a team called the Sneaks. During the Beetlebowl, an all-team game, they may (depending on who the reader chooses as their offensive line) leap into the middle of the ring when the event begins and flare up, blinding everyone nearby besides Roy Koopa and their Rocky Wrench teammate, due to their sunglasses. When one of the Firesnakes grabs a Hoopster and tries to dunk it into the Mushroom Kingdom Royals's bucket, Mario unintentionally stops it when the Mushroom King (who had been turned into a rabbit) hops by, causing him to sneeze and blow the Firesnake out. What other events the Firesnakes compete in besides the Beetlebowl are unspecified.

In Koopa Capers, Wendy O. Koopa, needing some Firesnake scales for a potion she is brewing, captures several and locks them in a freezing cave in the Magma Pits, causing them to enter a catatonic state and begin shedding.

Yoshi's Safari
In Yoshi's Safari, only two Firesnakes appear as mini-bosses. They are defeated by blasting them repeatedly with the Super Scope. Unlike other appearances, they are composed of a string of blue Lava Bubbles in this game, and instead of jumping, wind around rapidly like an actual snake, albeit through the air. They are destroyed one segment at a time, with each becoming a normal orange Lava Bubble and leaping at Yoshi upon taking enough damage.

Mario Kart DS
In Mario Kart DS, Fire Snakes appear on Desert Hills, where they are fired from the Angry Sun in the sky and hop along the track for a short time. The Fire Snakes in this game do not have eyes.

Mario Kart Wii
Fire Snakes appear on two courses: Desert Hills from Mario Kart DS and Grumble Volcano. In Grumble Volcano, they are found near the end hopping out of pipes on the side of the course. If a racer comes into contact with one, the racer spins out.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Fire Snakes reappear in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as obstacles for the racers on, which returns from Mario Kart Wii.

Trivia

 * Fire Snakes were written into the desert sequence of the Super Mario Bros. film, but were cut for unknown reasons. Scripts state that they "[...]resemble moray eels, their mouths filled with pointed piranha-like teeth," and that "They gnaw through the skin, burrow into the body cavities, and lay their larvae. It can take weeks for the host to die." Earlier scripts had given this description to "Sand Eels" which similarly did not appear in the final product. In the final cut, a neon sign labeled "Fire Snake" can be seen during the establishing shot of Dinohattan.
 * In the premade world for the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft, 3D pixel art of a Fire Snake appears in the desert.