Climbing and Gliding All of these methods work well for moving on the ground, but what about the snakes that climb trees? To climb, the Pope’s tree viper in northern India folds its body like an accordion. T en it liſt s and straightens its body, reaching upward. It’s hard to spot as it creeps along. Its green scales blend in with the tree’s green leaves. Some snakes would rather fl y to get where
they’re going. Flying snakes live in the hot and steamy rain forests of southeast Asia. Despite their name, they can’t actually fl y. T ey glide. When a fl ying snake wants to go from one
tree to another, it launches itself into the air. It fl ares out its ribs and sucks in its stomach. T is fl attens and widens its body, allowing it to ride air currents. A fl ying snake can only “fl y” downward
or across, not up. But it can steer in the air by twisting its body back and forth. Flying snakes fl y so well, in fact, they can
out-fl y fl ying squirrels. While squirrels can glide up to 60 meters from one tree to another, fl ying snakes can glide up to 100 meters or more.
Swimming Snakes Flying is one way to get around. Swimming works, too. All snakes can swim. T e heaviest snake is also one of the best swimmers. T e green anaconda of South America can weigh as much as 227 kilograms. It spends most of its time in the water. It can move faster there than on land. Like an alligator, the anaconda’s eyes and
nostrils are on top of its head. It can see prey and breathe while keeping the rest of its body hidden under water. When it does go completely underwater, the anaconda can hold its breath for up to 10 minutes. Some snakes, like the tropical yellow-lipped
sea snake, can hold their breath much longer. T is sea snake can stay submerged for three hours at a time. It spends more than 80 percent of its time underwater. Because of its aquatic life, it doesn’t have broad scales on its belly to help it move. It doesn’t need them to swim.
6 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER
The Big Squeeze Getting closer to their prey is only the first step for snakes. Nearly all snakes kill their prey before swallowing it. T ey mostly use two methods. Some, like the green tree python in Indonesia, squeeze their prey to death. T e python is a constrictor. It lunges at prey
and bites down to keep the prey from fl eeing. T en it coils its body around the animal, holding its prey in place. T e python slowly tightens its grip until the prey dies.
Fearsome Fangs Other snakes use their fangs to kill prey. Fangs are sharp, hollow teeth. T ey are connected to a small sac in the snake’s head behind its eyes. T ese sacs store a liquid called venom. Venom kills or paralyzes prey. T e black mamba in Africa is a fanged snake
to be feared. It’s one of the fastest and deadliest snakes in the world. Two drops of its venom can kill a person. T e venom works very quickly. T e prey dies soon aſt er the black mamba strikes.
Fangs
Fangs are grooved or hollow teeth. Venom moves from the venom gland through the venom canal to the fangs.
venon gland
fang
venom canal
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