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Climbing and Gliding What about snakes that climb trees? How do they move? T e Pope’s tree viper in northern India folds its body like an accordion. T en it liſt s and straightens its body, as it climbs upward. T is snake is hard to see. 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 really fl y. T ey glide. To move, the fl ying snake launches itself into the air. It fl ares out its ribs and sucks in its stomach. T is fl attens and widens its body, so it can ride air currents. A fl ying snake can only “fl y” downward


or across, not up. But it can steer through the air by twisting its body back and forth. Flying snakes fl y so well, they can out-fl y


fl ying squirrels. Squirrels can glide up to 60 meters from one tree to another. But fl ying snakes can glide a 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 can move faster in water than on land. T e 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. Because of its aquatic life, it has smooth scales on its belly to help it 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. One way is to squeeze the prey to death. T e green tree python in Indonesia is


a constrictor. It lunges and bites down on its prey. T en it coils its body around the animal. It 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 behind the snake’s eyes. T ese sacs hold venom. Venom kills or paralyzes prey. T e black mamba in Africa is one of the


fastest and deadliest snakes in the world. Two drops of its venom can kill a person.


Fangs


Fangs are grooved or hollow teeth. Venom moves from the venom gland through the venom canal to the fangs.


venom gland


fang


venom canal


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