The Amazing Sidewinder - zackandscottkarmachameleons
Desert vipers, such as the rattlesnake of southwestern USA, are remarkable in the way that they effectively move their bodies across their sandy environment. Rattlesnakes live in the desert, where dunes full of loose sand make for a difficult environment for movement. These desert vipers are able to navigate this sandy environment through a rather odd technique, called sidewinding.
Sidewinding is different than normal serpantine motion, in that the snake seems to hoist itself along its path one segment at a time. Sidewinding is initiated by a wave propagated from the rearward motion of the snake (similar to normal serpentine motion). The sidewinder does not trace the normal path of a snake, rather it essentially fixes a part of its body in the sand while simultaneously lifting the adjacent side.
The result of this motion can be explained by the unique traces left in the sand during movement. These traces show the perpendicular nature of snakes body to its trajectory and the uniqueness associated with the creature’s movement.
The blog continues with technical info and a related comment.
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A crude animated line-drawing showing the locomotor pattern of sidewinding. The light brown areas are the tracks left behind, and also indicate where the body of the snake touched the ground.
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Sidewinding, a form of locomotion used by some snakes
Bitis peringueyi or sidewinding adder, a venomous adder species found in Namibia and southern Angola
Cerastes cerastes or Saharan horned viper, a venomous pit viper found in northern Africa and parts of the Middle East
Crotalus cerastes or sidewinder rattlesnake, a venomous pit viper species found in the southwestern United States