The Science of Animal Movement: How Snakes Slither
4 There are 35 species of garter snake
5 CHAPTER 1 Unique Movement A garter snake slithers along a grassy hill Its body slides back and forth in an s shape It moves quietly and smoothly over the ground From above only ripples in the grass give away its activity
6 Moving without Limbs Unlike many other animals snakes don't have limbs Snakes have to get around by moving only their bodies Snakes can move their bodies in many ways A few snakes live in the water These snakes are good swimmers But most snakes live on land Some can keep their bodies straight and scoot forward in a line Others can move Snakes Can Swim Most snakes live on land But some live in water They swim with a similar movement snakes use to slither on land A water snake wiggles its body back and forth Its tail pushes against the water to move it forward
7 Sidewinder snakes throw themselves sideways to move forward by moving their bodies in an S shape Some can even make the S shape to move sideways When moving on land a snake's scales play an important role in helping it slither along
