HOW SNAKES MOVE
Snakes
have four ways of moving around. Since they don’t have legs they use
their muscles and their scales to do the “walking”.
Concertina method: this is when snakes bunch
themselves up and then throw themselves
forward.
Serpentine method: This motion is what most
people think of when they think of snakes. Snakes will push off of any
bump or other surface, rocks, trees, etc., to get going. They move in a
wavy motion. They wouldn’t be able to move over slick surfaces like
glass at all.
Sidewinding: This is a difficult motion to
describe but it is often used by snakes to move on loose or slippery
surfaces like sand or mud. The snake appears to throw its head
forward and the rest of its body follows while the head is thrown
forward again. (See picture.)
Rectilinear
Method:
This is a slow, creeping, straight movement. The snake uses some of the
wide scales on its belly to grip the ground while pushing forward with
the others.
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