The movement forward is so small, it’s hard to spot. Leading with its head, the green tree python’s body coils around a thick tree branch. The tough bark is no match for its hardened scales. Silently, the snake’s head slips down from the branch and dangles in the air. It soon sees its prey. On a nearby branch, a lizard sits, sunning itself. The lizard doesn’t see the snake until it’s too late. With open jaws, the snake’s head snaps forward. It snatches the lizard from the branch and gobbles it up.
Move On the
LIKE AN ‘S’ Some snakes move forward by using their scales to push off objects on the ground, like small rocks.
LIKE AN ACCORDION Some snakes climb by bunching the middle of their bodies up and gripping with their scales.
SIDEWAYS Some snakes lift up part of their bodies. They push into the sand with the rest of their bodies. They move sideways.
4
Slithering Snakes T e lizard stood little chance against the green tree python. T ese snakes are skilled hunters. A snake on the move is oſt en looking for prey. All snakes are carnivores. T ey eat meat. But first, they must catch and kill their prey. How a snake moves is essential to its survival. How does an animal without arms and
legs move? T e secret is in their scales. All snakes have scales covering their body. Scales are a form of thick skin that contains keratin. T at’s the same stuff found in your fingernails. Scales overlap, like tiles on a roof. When a snake moves, its scales create
friction between its body and the ground. Friction is the force that slows objects down when they rub against each other. Snakes use muscles to move their bodies. T e motion looks like a wave. As the wave travels from the head to the tail, the snake’s scales catch the ground. T is pushes the snake forward.
Snakes don’t need arms or legs to get around. They use a combination of powerful muscles and gripping scales to move.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24