Snakes move by using their muscles, ribs, and scales in coordinated ways to propel themselves without legs. Their movement relies heavily on friction and pushing off surfaces around them.
How Snakes Move
1. Serpentine (Lateral Undulation) Movement
This is the most common form of snake locomotion, often called slithering. The
snake forms S-shaped curves with its body and pushes off irregularities in the
ground such as rocks, sticks, or bumps. The muscles attached to its ribs
contract to create these curves, and the scales, which have directional
friction, grip the ground to prevent slipping backward. This allows the snake
to push sideways against the environment and move forward efficiently. On very
smooth surfaces, snakes struggle because they lack these anchor points
. 2. Concertina Movement
Used in tight spaces, the snake anchors the front part of its body while
extending the rear forward, then it anchors the rear and pulls the front
forward. This alternating anchoring and stretching allow movement in confined
areas such as tunnels or narrow crevices
. 3. Sidewinding
This movement is adapted for loose or slippery surfaces like sand or mud. The
snake lifts parts of its body off the ground and moves sideways in a series of
loops, minimizing contact with hot or unstable surfaces. Sidewinding involves
a combination of lateral (side-to-side) and vertical (up-and-down) body
movements, allowing the snake to "walk" forward using three anchor points at a
time
. 4. Rectilinear (Linear) Progression
Used mostly by large or heavy snakes and those living underground, this mode
involves the snake moving in a straight line without bending its spine. The
snake uses muscles to push its loose belly skin forward, anchoring it to the
ground, and then pulls the rest of the body along. This results in a smooth,
gliding forward motion
Biological Mechanisms Behind Movement
- Snakes have hundreds of ribs and many muscles that allow complex bending and pushing motions.
- Their scales have a directional frictional property, meaning they grip the surface better in one direction, helping propulsion.
- The combination of muscle contractions, rib movement, and scale friction enables snakes to move effectively on various terrains, including climbing and swimming
In summary, snakes move by pushing off surfaces with their muscular, rib- supported bodies and using their specialized scales for directional grip, employing different locomotion modes depending on their environment and needs.
