Locomotion without limbs Flashcards
Snakes use one of four main types of locomotion
Name the four
Lateral undulatory movement
Rectilinear movement
Concertina movement
Sidewinding
Describe undulatory movement
Same as an eel.
Snake throws its body into a series of waves
Those waves gradually progress down along the body
Each wave pushes against objects like rocks, stones, tree roots
In order to provide enough friction in order to push the body forwards
Describe Rectiilinear movement
The animal does not move side to side at all
‘Like a ruler moving in a straight line’
The snake’s skin is loose fitting and ‘scutes’ on the ventral surface provide movement.
One by one, additional scutes are added to the bunched region from behind as others are stretched away from the front.
Describe Concertina movement
One or more s-shaped coils press downwards and backwards against the substrate.
The forward component of this thrust is used to advance the head forwards which is held clear of the ground.
The concertina locomotion mode also provides much greater what?
Lateral stability when the snake raises its head into a striking pose such as the way the Spitting Cobra does.
Sidewinding
Coils of the snake’s body arch between linear tracks made on the substrate at an angle to the direction of movement.
How does the gliding snake glide?
It compresses its body into a concave C-shape which creates a wide surface area like a parachute to trap air as they fall/glide. By undulating back and forth they can turn in the air.
