You might think that having no legs would make it hard to get around. Snakes disagree. They crawl, climb trees, burrow, swim on top of the water and under it, scale walls, and a few can even glide through the air. Look at the ratsnake in the photo and try to call that a handicap. Here are the main ways snakes move. Lateral undulation (the classic S-curve). This is what most people picture. The snake sends waves down its body from head to tail and pushes against bumps, rocks, and stems to move forward. It is fast and efficient, and it is also how snakes swim. Slide-push.
This lesson is part of Certified Junior Herpetologist. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 30 hours).
