Snake style is not a shaolin style

http://www.shaolin-society.co.uk/Animal_Styles/The_Snake/the_snake.php
The Snake seems like an animal that does not belong in a Shaolin form, since it lacks legs for rapid movement and by nature is sly and soft, rather than aggressive and powerful. However, those are the reasons why the snake was included in the Shaolin system.

The purpose of the snake form is to develop and cultivate the internal energy (chi). This energy is the essence that gives the martial artist focus and penetrating power far superior to ordinary external strikes.

Since the snake has no arms or legs, the reptile must move with a turning circular action to the body. To be an effective fighter, the snake compensates for its lack of limbs the snake can coil its body and raise straight up, (as does a cobra) into a striking position. From that coiled position, with devastating speed and accuracy, he straightens his body in a strike toward his prey. The snake gains a great power and force from just the momentum and twisting action of his coiled strike.

The other advantage, and perhaps even more important than the snakes unique striking technique, is in developing and releasing internal energy (chi) with every strike. Since he is calm, relaxed animal, the snake possesses much more chi than other animals. Therefore, when he combines his internal energy with his external striking technique. The snake becomes a formidable and powerful adversary.

The snake form differs from the other animals in that through its relaxed floating movements. It delivers a power that is both hard and soft. Most other animal styles utilise a tense, aggressive force to strike down the adversaries. There are no fists to be seen in the snake form the strikes are all penetrating palm and fingertip attacks

The tiger is the opposite of the snake; its strength is strictly external. The tiger movements are noisy and active .The snakes energy is quiet and internal. All snake techniques are of the advanced martial level where blocks and strikes are made simultaneously. There is no difference between offence and defence, since defence instantly becomes offence and vice versa.

The training techniques of the Shaolin snake form incorporate similar techniques to the wing chun sticky hands and the Tai chi chuan pushing hands The snake has a spirit, the practitioner should be able to look inside themselves and feel peaceful and quiet, nothing will bother him/her externally.

THE DRAGON

The Chinese dragon is no relation to the western worlds fire-breathing dragon or to any prehistoric dinosaur like beast. It is strictly a product of spiritual beliefs and is listed in Buddhist text as a supernatural animal that can appear or disappear at will, and make itself any size.
According to Buddhist writings, dragons live in oceans. Since dragons live in large bodies of water, their association with the rest of the world is through water. If a dragon wishes to become visible, anyone can see him. If not, then only those who have reached a high level of enlightenment can view this special animal. The Chinese also believe that dragons produce rain, and when they do decide to make themselves visible they are seen on clouds.
Chinese dragons have snake like bodies covered with scales. They also have lizard like arms and legs that end in sharp claws. The head resembles a snakehead. Since Shaolin martial arts are derived of Buddhist origins, the dragon was a perfect candidate to represent a gungfu form.
As with its mythical namesake, Shaolin dragon form fighting transcends the easily understood real world of external martial martial arts and enters the spiritual world of internal strength and power.
The dragon represents internal strength, although it does have some external training benefits. Since dragons are not actual living beasts, many dragon techniques are variations of the characteristics of other gungfu animals. For instance, dragon movements are soft and circular, similar to, but not exactly like, those of the snake.
However, dragon techniques should not be confused with those of the Shaolin snake. Although both are lizard like, the snake has no legs, while the dragon's claws form an important element of its fighting style.
While Shaolin snake techniques contain softer coiling actions and finger tip strikes, dragon techniques are represented through soft circular movements ending with hard sudden power. Therefore, the snake exhibits only soft power, while the dragon uses a force that represents both hard and soft training.
In the days of the Shaolin temple, dragon training involved specialised exercises called Long Zhua Gong, which were similar to the tiger style exercises of holding heavy jars. The actual dragon movements also encourage the student to use his/her waist to generate power rather than relying on the strength of the shoulders and arms. This useful training habit comes from an imitation of the whip like action of a dragon's long tail.
The dragon forms primary contribution to Shaolin animal styles is its internal conditioning and training, balancing the other animals.