The Skin-Deep Physics of Sidewinder Snakes – The New York Times

When it comes to slithering, most snakes do it the same way: straight ahead. But for snakes that live in deserts, getting around can be a challenge.

As we know from trying to move on sand in a beach or other places, it can be difficult to move on these materials that yield underneath you as you move forward, said Jennifer Rieser, a professor of physics at Emory University in Atlanta.

That s why sidewinders slither sideways. Although some snakes can move laterally under certain conditions, Dr. Rieser said, sidewinders the common name for a group of three distantly-related vipers found in the deserts of Africa, the Middle East and North America have raised this unique form of movement to an art. The sidewinding rattlesnake, for example, can travel at speeds of 18 miles per hour, making it the fastest snake in the world.

via www.nytimes.com