What Is Snake Movement Called
From rapidly slithering serpents to the slow-moving, cautious crawl of a python, snakes have a truly unique method of getting around. The fascinating question arises: what is snake movement called?
The snake’s characteristic movement style is known as serpentine locomotion or simply “slithering”.
Employing their flexible body and scales beneath their belly, snakes are able to move forward in a wave-like motion, pushing against the ground, rocks, or other surfaces as they move. This captivating form of movement is a marvel of the animal kingdom.
Slither into the World of Snakes: Movement Basics
Snakes have a fascinating way of moving around. Unlike other creatures that use legs or wings for locomotion, snakes rely on their strong and flexible bodies to slither, crawl, or even climb. Their unique movement style not only catches our eye but also serves a particular evolutionary function that has enabled them to survive in diverse habitats around the world.
Why Snakes Move Differently
Snake movement, primarily known as ‘slithering,’ is quite different from other animals. With no legs to walk or run, they have developed a unique form of movement using their belly and scales. The rigid scales on their belly provide the friction required to push against the ground while they contract and extend their muscles. This action propels them forward, allowing them to move in a serpentine pattern, hence the term ‘slither.’
There are variations within this unique form of locomotion though. Some snakes, like the sidewinder rattlesnake, use a method known as sidewinding, particularly effective in sandy or slippery environments. Then, we have tree-dwelling snakes that employ a method called concertina motion for climbing, which involves alternately stretching and bunching up their body to inch upwards.
The Evolutionary Advantage of Snake Movement
Snakes are highly adaptive creatures, and their mode of locomotion is a testament to that. The slithering style of movement offers them an edge in survival, allowing them to navigate various terrains, whether it’s the dry desert, dense jungle, or even water.
For instance, the sidewinder rattlesnake’s peculiar sidewinding movement is not only efficient on the sandy terrain it usually inhabits but also aids in thermal regulation by minimizing contact with the hot sand. Similarly, the concertina method used by arboreal snakes aids in efficient climbing without risking a fall from shaky branches.
Additionally, an interesting advantage of the snake’s slithering is its energy efficiency. According to a study published in the journal Nature, snakes only use about half the energy an equivalent-sized legged animal would use to move the same distance. This low energy use is beneficial for snakes, considering their slow metabolic rate and infrequent meals.
Dispelling Myths: Do Snakes Really ‘Slither’?
Most people believe that snakes move by ‘slithering’. This traditional belief portrays a kind of movement that’s smooth, flowy, and sinuous. But is this how snakes actually move? Let’s dive deeper into the anatomy and physiology of snakes to understand their unique mode of locomotion.
Understanding the Anatomy of a Snake
The anatomy of a snake is spectacularly suited for its lifestyle. Without limbs, snakes have had to evolve other ways of getting around. The most notable feature in their anatomy that’s directly tied to their movement is their elongated, tube-like body. This is complemented by a flexible spine which consists of anywhere between 100 to 400 vertebrae, depending on the species. Each vertebra is attached to pairs of ribs that offer support and flexibility. Let’s explore in detail how the anatomy of a snake aids in its movement.
The Key Role of Scales
One of the most integral parts of a snake’s movement is their scales. The scales on a snake’s belly, known as ‘scutes’, play a crucial role in locomotion. They are larger and differently structured than the scales covering the rest of the body. The scutes create friction against the terrain, grip the surface, and push the snake’s body forward or backward. This specific pattern seen in scutes aids in a type of movement known as ‘rectilinear progression’. This is essentially movement in a straight line and is the most common method of movement for large, heavy snakes like boas and pythons.
How the Lack of Limbs Impacts Movement
While it might appear to be a limitation, the absence of limbs in snakes is actually what makes their unique form of movement possible. With their long and flexible bodies, snakes can move in ways that are impossible for creatures with legs. The lack of limbs allows snakes to employ several different modes of locomotion, including the aforementioned rectilinear progression, as well as lateral undulation (side to side movement), concertina movement (accordion-like movement) and sidewinding (a specialized movement for sandy or slippery surfaces). Each mode of locomotion is suited to a particular type of terrain or environmental condition, giving snakes great adaptability in a wide range of habitats.
The Dance of the Serpent: The Different Forms of Snake Locomotion
The snake’s unique and mesmerizing locomotion has captivated imaginations for centuries. There are primarily five ways a snake moves, each fascinating in its own right.
1. Serpentine Method: A Classic Movement
The most common mode of snake locomotion is the serpentine method. It’s what we traditionally think of when we imagine a snake moving. The snake contracts its muscles, pushing off against surfaces and forming lateral undulations along its body to move forward. This type of movement is efficient over a variety of terrains, from smooth surfaces to rough, irregular ones. It is termed ‘serpentine’ as it appears as a seamless, flowing motion, just like water flowing in a serpentine river.
2. Concertina Method: Movement in Tight Spaces
When in tight spaces, or climbing on thin branches or vertical surfaces, snakes adopt the concertina method. The snake braces the rear part of its body while pushing and extending the front part, then it contracts the front part while extending the rear. This looks like the movement of an accordion or a telescopic viewer, hence the name ‘concertina’.
3. Sidewinding: How Desert Snakes Navigate Sand
Sidewinding is a unique way of moving done by certain desert snakes, especially across surfaces where traction may be minimal, like sand. Instead of slithering in an S-shape, the snake appears to throw its head forward, and the rest of its body follows while maintaining contact with the sand at two points. The snake moves sideways with this method (hence the term ‘sidewinding’), and it minimizes the contact of the body with hot desert surfaces.
4. Caterpillar Method: A Unique and Slower Method
Also known as ‘rectilinear method’, the caterpillar method of movement is slightly slower. It involves the snake using its widened belly scales to grip the ground, while the rest of the body moves forward in a straight line, akin to the movement of a caterpillar. This mode of locomotion is often employed when moving stealthily towards prey.
5. Slide and Glide: Movement on Flat Surfaces
On sleek, flat surfaces, snakes sometimes use the ‘slide and glide’ method. It’s a straightforward method where the snake smoothly slides, almost appearing to glide over the surface. You’ll often see this in species such as the red-bellied black snake, which is known for its smooth, gliding motion on wet, shiny surfaces.
The Influence of Environment on Snake Movement
Snake movements are greatly affected by the type of environment in which they live. Different species of snakes have adapted unique styles of movement to navigate their surroundings with ease. From the rocky peaks to the depths of the seas, snakes have evolved to traverse multiple terrains.
Charting the Terrain: How Snakes Conquer Various Landscapes
The most common form of snake movement on land is serpentine locomotion or lateral undulation. This is the classic ‘S’ shape movement that most people associate with snakes. In this form of movement, snakes create a series of horizontal waves that move down their body, pushing against obstacles and moving them forward. Remarkably, when necessary, some snakes can move in a straight line using a motion called rectilinear progression. This movement allows them to move silently and creep up on their prey.
Aquatic Acrobats: How Snakes Swim
In water, snakes are again reliant on the technique of lateral undulation. However, the process is slightly different from when they are on land. The snake will move its body in a wave-like motion both horizontally and vertically to create propulsion and move forward. Some species of snakes like the Yellow-bellied Sea Snake and the Tentacled snake are fully aquatic and have tails that are flattened to act like paddles that aid in their swimming.
Tree-topping Travels: Climbing Techniques of Snakes
When it comes to climbing, snakes employ another form of movement called concertina locomotion. This involves extending the front part of their body upwards and then bringing the back part of their body to meet it in an inchworm-like motion. This climbing technique is especially used by snakes like the Green tree python, the Eastern brown snake, and the Boa constrictor.
Constrictor’s Coil: Movement of Constrictor Snakes in Trees
Constrictor snakes have extraordinarily strong muscles that help them grip onto the tree branches while they move. Their powerful body is capable of holding their position on a tree branch while they extend the front part of their body to reach another branch. These snakes can suspend their bodies and move between trees with ease thanks to their robust coiling technique. This specific movement is also an effective strategy for capturing prey within the branches of trees.
Is the Type of Snake Movement the Same Across All Species?
Snake movement varies across species due to differences in habitat and body structure. While all snakes lack limbs, they use different types of locomotion such as lateral undulation, concertina, and rectilinear motion. Understanding how snakes move without legs provides insights into their adaptability across diverse terrains and environments.
Fabulous and Fast: Speed of Snake Movements
In the fascinating world of reptiles, snakes are known for their unique mode of locomotion. Unlike most animals with legs, snakes slither gracefully, moving in a sidewinding or serpentine manner. This particular sort of movement is compelling and captivating, but it also prompts the question – how fast can a snake actually move?
The speed of a snake relies heavily on its species, size, and environment. Most snakes move at a speed of 1 to 2 miles per hour, which may not seem that fast in comparison to other animals. However, it’s surprisingly quick for a creature with no legs. The Black Mamba, for instance, holds the title for the fastest snake on earth, clocking in at an impressive 12.5 miles per hour!
How Fast Can a Snake Actually Move?
When we think of fast animals, the cheetah probably comes to mind first, hitting a top speed of 60 to 70 miles per hour. In comparison, a snake’s speed may not seem like much. However, considering snakes move without legs, their speed is highly impressive and is a testament to their adaptability and evolution.
The fastest snake, the Black Mamba, can reach up to 12.5 miles per hour – that’s a swift slither! The next in line, the Sidewinder, a rattlesnake species known for its unique sideways motion across sand dunes, can clock up to 18 kilometers per hour during a sidewinding sprint. But on average, most snake species generally move at a rate of 1-5 miles per hour.
Ranking Snakes By Speed: Who’s the Fastest?
Among the approximately 3,600 species of snakes globally, several snake species are infamous for their fast movement speed. Topping the list is the fear-inspiring Black Mamba, which can reach up to 12.5 miles per hour.
Following suit is the eastern brown snake of Australia, which, when threatened, can move up to 12 miles per hour. The Sidewinder rattlesnake, with its peculiar sidewinding move, can hit speeds of 11 miles per hour over open desert ground. The King cobra, world’s longest venomous snake, known for its impressive striking pose, can achieve speeds up to 5 miles per hour when in a hurry.
While these speeds may vary based on specific circumstances, it’s safe to say that the world of snakes is a speedy one indeed!
How Snake Movement Affects Human Interactions
Snakes have inspired both awe and fear in humans for thousands of years, largely due to their unique, mesmerizing movements. How a snake moves can deeply affect human interactions with them. From culture and symbolism to practical interaction guides for snake enthusiasts and herpetologists, snake movements indeed play an important role.
Snake Movements in Culture and Symbolism
In many cultures and religions worldwide, the movement of snakes carries significant symbolic meanings. In Hindu culture, for example, the coiling movement of a snake symbolizes the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. In Ancient Egypt, the undulating motion of snakes was associated with the divine as the snake was revered as a powerful deity.
The sidewinding movement of snakes, a form of locomotion designed to conquer sandy and slick terrain, often symbolizes cunning or deception in folklore around the world because of its unusual and complex pattern. That said, it’s also worth noting that in some cultures, snake nimbleness and agility are often seen as signs of wisdom and intelligence.
Interpreting Snake Movements: A Guide for Snake enthusiasts and Herpetologists
Understanding a snake’s movements is vital for both enthusiasts and professional herpetologists alike. Observing a snake’s form of locomotion can reveal valuable clues about its natural habitat, behavior, and potential danger to humans.
For instance, the serpentine movement, the most common form of snake locomotion, also known as lateral undulation, is characterized by moving sideways in an ‘S’ shape and indicates the snake is comfortable in both water and land environments. Whereas, the rectilinear method, a slow, caterpillar-like movement, is a movement pattern typically associated with larger and heavier snakes.
The previously mentioned sidewinding is a unique way snakes move in loose sand deserts, characterized by lifting a part of their body off the ground and throwing it forward. Finally, “concertina” locomotion is employed in tight spaces and involves the snake coiling and stretching itself forward. By observing and understanding these movements, one can better appreciate the complexities and marvels of snake behavior.
Resources
- https://jolt.sites.haverford.edu/columns/how-snakes-move/
- https://magazine.uc.edu/editors_picks/recent_features/locomotion.html
- https://userweb.ucs.louisiana.edu/~brm2286/locomotn.htm
