HOW SNAKES MOVE

Snakes have four ways of moving around. Since they don’t have legs they use their muscles and their scales to do the “walking”.

Concertina method: this is when snakes bunch themselves up and then throwthemselves forward.

Serpentine method: This motion is what most people think of when they think of snakes. Snakes will push off of any bump or other surface, rocks, trees, etc., to get going. They move in a wavy motion. They wouldn’t be able to move over slick surfaces like glass at all.

Sidewinding: This is a difficult motion to describe but it is often used by snakes to move on loose or slippery surfaces like sand or mud.  The snake appears to throw its head forward and the rest of its body follows while the head is thrown forward again.  (See picture.) 

Rectilinear Method: This is a slow, creeping, straight movement. The snake uses some of the wide scales on its belly to grip the ground while pushing forward with the others.