If danger arises, it turns into a "wheel": scientists studied an unusual escape method of the snake
Scientists from Japan's Toho University have captured on high-speed cameras the movement of a snake that coils its body into a ring and rolls away like a wheel when in danger. This method allows it to move approximately four times faster than normal slithering.
It turns into a "wheel" if danger arises: scientists studied an extraordinary escape method of a snake
Researchers have studied the unusual method of movement of the Dwarf reed snake — Pseudorabdion longiceps. It lurches forward sharply, forms its body into a loop shape, and rolls. Then it repeats this movement over and over, resembling a bouncing wheel.
In this way, the snake can cover a distance of almost 30 centimeters per second. This is approximately four times faster than its normal crawling speed.
The snake does not need a central axis to perform a wheel-like movement. It rolls through coordinated rotational movements of its body, while keeping the position of its head stable.
High-speed video recordings allowed scientists to slow down the motion and analyze each rolling cycle by breaking it down into separate stages. This method helped to study in detail the biomechanics of movements that are difficult to notice during simple observation.
The results of the study were published in the journal Current Biology.