The very most .... snakes. The fastest snake is the black mamba The speed of the fastest snake

We welcome all readers of our site "I and the World". Which of you knows the fastest animal in the world? Well, of course, you say: cheetah. And you will be right! He is the fastest living on land. Today you will read about the top 10 fastest running land animals and touch a little on those who from the representatives of the fauna quickly swim and fly.

Opens our top ten Leopard - 58 km / h

Yes, he definitely won’t catch up with the cheetah if they compete. When the Leopard is chasing prey, it does not waste energy, but gently ambush. It hunts antelopes, rodents, warthogs. Leopards live in Africa and Asia for 10-15 years, if earlier poachers do not kill them because of their beautiful fur. In the 20th century these big cats were included in the Red Book.

The sizes of forest leopards are smaller than those that live on open places, apparently it’s more difficult to get through the thickets and big size only hinders. The mass of the largest males reaches 75 kg. It is very similar in coloration to the cheetah and jaguar, and varies in color from pale straw or gray to rusty brown. In Southeast Asia, there are absolutely black leopards, called Panthers.

In 9th place - Coyote - 65 km / h

They are not only sprinters, but also excellent swimmers - fish hunters. They move interestingly, bouncing in length from 2 to 4 meters. In mass, they are significantly inferior to real wolves and weigh up to 21 kg, when wolves weigh up to 60 kg. The fur is more brown, and the elongated muzzle resembles a fox. Maybe the Coyotes are the children of wolves and foxes, and for some reason, related in ancient times?

Coyotes are inhabitants of the plains and try not to appear in the forests. But on the outskirts major cities they are periodically noticed where they like to rummage through the garbage. They hunt mainly at dusk for hares, marmots, ground squirrels and other small animals. In autumn they like to eat berries and nuts.

The Hyena Dog ran up to 8th place - 70 km / h

Its name translates as "painted wolf". But there are also black dogs. They were once very common in the African steppes and savannas, but now they are found mainly in national parks. And although it is a relative of the wolf, it is very similar to the hyena.

Low, lean, weighing up to 36 kg. They hunt during the day and always in packs of up to 15 individuals for ungulates: antelopes, old zebras, wildebeest, reed rats. They don't eat carrion. Everyone in the flock lives together, feeds and takes care of the old and sick.

7th place - Elk - 75 km / h

It is hard to believe that this stately and rather heavy (up to 600 kg) handsome forest man is capable of developing such a high speed. But it is so! On the plain, Moose run fast, which may be why predators are not always “too tough”. They defend themselves with blows of their front legs, and even bears are afraid to attack Elks in open areas - only among trees or bushes, where Elks are limited in movement.

They live in the forests of the Northern Hemisphere, less often in the forest-tundra and forest-steppe. In total, about one and a half million individuals live on earth, only in Russia alone there are 730,000. Moose are quite tall, and their strongly elongated legs do not make it easy to drink water. They have to go deeper into the reservoir or kneel to get drunk. Males grow large horns, with a span of up to 180 cm and a weight of up to 30 kg. In summer, due to the heat, they are nocturnal. They feed on plant foods, lichens and mushrooms, and in winter they bite tree branches.

In 6th place - Thomson's Gazelle - up to 80 km / h

The gazelle is the tastiest prey of the fast cheetahs, but they can rarely catch up with it due to high jumps while running. Although after 4-6 km of constant running, the Gazelle gets very tired and at this time the cheetahs still easily attack. Gazelles live in the steppes of Kenya and Tanzania.

They live in herds of several hundreds or thousands of individuals, consisting either only of females, or only of males. But there are also single males. They feed mainly on grasses, but can also eat tree shoots. The mass of large males reaches only 35 kg.

5th place goes to Leo - 80 km / h

These strong kings of nature are very mobile animals and at a distance of 20 meters they develop the highest speed. The mass of some males reaches 250 kg. In captivity, Lions reach large sizes, because there is no need to run after prey in a cage. In nature, they live up to 14 years, and next to a person up to 20.

White lions are found in national parks. These are not albinos, just such a subspecies of Lions. Differing from other cats, they live not alone, but in families - prides. They eat, of course, animal food. They hunt at night, sneaking up to prey at a distance of up to 30 meters, surround and attack. Sometimes they attack a person and then become cannibals, trying to kill a person more often.

4th place - Gazelle Grant - 85 km / h

Can run at a constant speed for a long time without getting tired, weighing up to 65 kg. Live in open plains East Africa, avoiding high vegetation, where they will not be able to see predators in time.

They easily survive where there is almost no water, only on one, even sparse vegetation. They move in herds, but some males prefer a permanent territory. In some areas, the Gazelle is completely destroyed, but in others it is quite common.

Third place goes to Pronghorn - 89 km/h

Although the normal speed of this pronghorn antelope ranges from 60 to 70 km/h, but the maximum speed has been fixed at 89. Therefore, it can easily run away from any predator, because it does not need to rest. A beautiful, slender animal reaches a mass of 60 kg. They live in the steppes North America from Canada to Mexico.

In autumn and winter they gather in herds with a leader, and in summer they are divided into pairs until the next winter. Old males usually live alone. They feed on grassy food: ordinary and poisonous plants, cacti. They drink little, therefore, if there is little water, they survive on herbs.

2nd place belongs to the Jaguar - 93 km / h

A beautiful, spotted cat cannot boast of endurance, and it can develop such a high speed only at short distances. If the victim notices the Jaguar at a great distance and runs away, then the predator does not even try to catch it, because it will run out of steam in a few minutes.

It attacks only if it manages to get very close. Lives in North and South America. In mass, the Jaguar reaches 113 kg. They live alone on their territory up to 50 square meters. km. They hunt small animals at dusk, they can eat a snake, a turtle, they catch fish. They prefer not to attack ungulates.

And we rightfully give the first place to the Cheetah - 120 km / h

The fastest land animal, the Cheetah, usually reaches speeds of up to 98 km/h and can run up to 400 m on level ground. But catching up with prey can develop in 3 seconds. the maximum speed is up to 120 km / h, which is almost 2 times the speed of its victims. But he can't run long distances.

The mass of an adult male reaches 65 kg. During the day they hunt medium-sized ungulates: gazelles, wildebeest calves, as well as hares or ostriches. They catch up with prey by jumping 6-8 meters. They do not attack from ambush, because where they live there are simply no places to hide. Lives in Africa and the Middle East.

I would like to dwell on the fastest animals in the water and in the air. What place do they occupy among their own? Of course the first!

The fastest marine animal -, speeds up to 130 km / h

Research has shown that fish have oil in their jaws that they release into the water. Spreading around the head, the oil reduces friction against the water.

There is another fast marine animal with the same speed - Black marlin.

Who is the fastest bird? The handsome Peregrine Falcon, accelerating for prey and diving, is able to accelerate to 390 km / h

When struck with claws at such a speed, it can tear off the head of prey.

We showed photos and descriptions of the fastest animals on the planet. There are others, but we will not dwell on them today. Liked the article? Share information with friends. In the meantime, we say goodbye to the next entertaining articles.

Ecology

The world of animals has its record holders.

Find out the answers to the questions of who in the animal world flies, swims, runs or crawls the fastest.

Here you can learn about the fastest of its kind representatives of the animal world.

The fastest bird is the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)

This bird of prey from the falcon family can be seen on almost all continents, with the exception of Antarctica.

In nature, there are about 17 subspecies of peregrine falcons.

On our planet, this is not only the most fast bird, but also the fastest living creature.

According to experts, in a fast dive flight, the peregrine falcon can reach speeds of up to 322 km/h.

But it is worth noting that in horizontal flight the peregrine falcon gives way to the swift, in which the horizontal flight speed can reach 111 km / h.

The fastest horse - English racehorses

On the this moment these thoroughbred riding horses are considered the fastest. If you choose a specific representative, then the fastest is the thoroughbred stallion Beach Rekit.

He was able to set an absolute record among domestic breeds. During the 409.26 meter race in Mexico, Beach reached a top speed of 69.69 km/h. In general, the average speed of English racehorses is 60 km / h.

The fastest fish is the sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)

This sea fish from the perch-like order, lives in all the oceans of the Earth, preferring tropical, subtropical and temperate waters.

It is worth noting that the sailboat is an active predator and is capable of speeds up to 100 km/h.

During experiments at a fishing camp in Long Key, Florida, USA, this fish was able to swim 91 meters in 3 seconds, which is equal to a speed of 109 km/h.

The fastest animal (land animal) is the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

The cheetah is the fastest land animal. It differs from other felids in that it does not hunt prey, sitting in ambush, preferring to pursue it.

First, the cheetah approaches its prey at a distance of about 10 meters, not particularly trying to be stealthy, and then tries to catch potential prey in a short run. During the race, he can reach speeds of up to 110-115 km / h, while he develops a speed of 75 km / h in 2 seconds. It is also worth noting that the cheetah runs in jumps 6-8 meters long.

The fastest dog is Greyhound

In general, opinions about which dog is the fastest are divided. Some say that this is a hunting English Greyhound, which boasts a very fast run over short distances, which gives them the opportunity to catch a hare.

If we talk about the hyena dog, then she capable of reaching speeds of up to 55 km / h and chasing its prey to exhaustion.

And yet officially, the highest speed among dogs was recorded on March 5, 1994 in Australia, when a greyhound named Star Title was able to accelerate to 67.32 km / h.

The fastest cat is the Egyptian Mau

This short-haired, medium-sized cat breed boasts a full of energy that loves to move and play. Therefore, the Egyptian Mau has a flexible and muscular shape.

From the Egyptian language "mau" means "cat". This cat can reach speeds up to 58 km/h. In addition, Mau have excellent vision, hearing and smell.

The fastest snake is mamba

The officially recorded speed of this snake is 11.3 km/h, and this is on the ground. In the branches, the mamba is even faster.

In addition, she is one of the most poisonous snakes on Earth, and in Africa, there is no other snake that is as feared as the mamba.

The fastest turtle is the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

Among reptiles, this is the fastest - in water it can reach a speed of 35 km / h.

Such a turtle weighs 450 kg, and its body length can vary from 1.8 to 2.1 meters.

However, in 1988, a male leatherback turtle was found in Harleck, UK, with a body length of 2.91 meters and a weight of 961.1 kg.

The fastest insect

In this case, it is worth dividing by the speed on the ground and in the air. The fastest insect on earth is the American cockroach. Its speed reaches 5.4 km/h. It is worth noting that in 1 second he is able to run a distance that is 50 times the length. own body. When compared with a person, this corresponds to a speed of about 330 km / h.

The insect that holds the record in the air is the dragonfly, namely Austroflebia costalis, which can reach speeds of up to 52 km/h in flight. Since there are different ways measurements of speed, experts cannot unambiguously say who is faster, divided between dragonflies, hawks and horseflies.

The snake attacks so swiftly that it manages to bite its prey four times in a fraction of a second. If a person moved with the same acceleration, he would simply lose consciousness.

The Texas rattlesnake, lurking in the sands or grasslands of southern California (USA), is one of the most patient predators in the world.

These snakes tend to spend their lives alone, hiding in ambush while waiting for their next meal.

They can wait a long time. If necessary, they are able to go without food for up to two years, but as soon as they have the chance, they become one of the most dangerous and skilled hunters on the planet.

And, like all snakes, their main weapon is not in size and not in strength, but in speed.

A snake bite takes 44 to 70 milliseconds, according to a study published in March 2016.

For clarity: it takes a person about 200 milliseconds to blink. It turns out that during this time a particularly ruthless snake is able to bite him as many as four times.

This is an almost unimaginable speed: it turns out that snakes sting much faster than we can move.

In fact, if we were moving with the same acceleration as snakes, we would simply faint.

"Most of the time, potential prey has no chance of surviving," says David Penning of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA.

For several months he observed rattlesnakes, as well as a wide variety of poisonous and harmless snakes using a high speed camera.

"These predators are able to reach their target and strike before the prey even realizes they've been attacked."

Not only rattler can move so fast. Total number species of snakes on the planet is estimated at 3.5 thousand - from tiny vipers to huge pythons - but very few of them have been studied.

However, even if we take only those species that have already been studied, it is obvious that very many people are capable of developing such an amazing acceleration.

This is due to the unique physiology of snakes, which has been perfected over millions of years.

First, snakes are extremely muscular. While the human body has 700-800 muscles, snakes - even the smallest ones - have 10 to 15 thousand.

How this abundance of muscle allows the snake to move at such dizzying speed is still unknown.

Some believe that they compress and store energy for a throw, and then straighten out like a spring.

However, snakes have even more interesting feature which baffles scientists.

Because these reptiles attack at such speed, their body is subjected to tremendous G-forces - the kind that would completely immobilize almost any animal.

Penning found that at the moment of throwing the snake is affected by a force 30 times greater than the force of gravity.

At the same time, the most trained fighter pilots feel that their arms and legs stop obeying them already at an overload of 8 times the force of gravity when they perform swift stunts in the air.

Under the influence of 10 times overload more power attraction they quickly lose consciousness.

“Chameleons and some salamanders have been known to rapidly extend their tongue towards their prey when attacking, and the acceleration can be much greater than that of a stinging snake,” explains Penning. “But the main difference is that in this case only the tongue moves, not the brain."

The brain is simply not able to endure a large acceleration.

"The brain is an incredibly delicate organ that is hypersensitive to acceleration and shock," says Penning. "That's why American football players wear helmets, and concussions are considered serious injuries."

When a fighter pilot is subjected to high acceleration, the blood rushes to the legs, depriving the brain of vital oxygen.

If this happens too quickly, the blood does not have time to return back to the brain, and the person loses consciousness.

However, snakes manage to cope with this difficulty and maintain complete control over the situation, while moving with much greater acceleration and hitting their prey with crushing force. This is partly due to the structure of the snake skull.

"The skull of a snake is incredibly dynamic and mobile," says Penning. a large number various joints gives the snake flexibility and maneuverability.

Penning believes that the difference is the same as if you "hit the bag or hit the brick wall."

According to him, "the wall stands still and takes all the impact, and the bag moves, as if distributing the shock."

Scientists are now trying to figure out how the skeleton and nervous system snakes.

They are going to use the knowledge gained to protect a person in situations where a large overload affects his body.

The idea that learning snake attack tactics will help us design cars that will better protect people from impact might seem funny. But it is much closer to reality than you might expect.

"Now we're trying to figure out what exactly happens when a snake hits its prey," says Penning.

"Snakes are able to stretch their heads, freeze, immediately reorganize into a defensive position, and then repeat these movements again and again."

"The question is what helps them to endure such loads relatively painlessly, and whether their secret can be used in the future for the benefit of mankind," he concludes.

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When an event happens too quickly, we say that we didn’t have time to blink an eye. A human blinks in 202 ms, a rattlesnake throw lasts no more than 90 ms. Long time Texas rattlesnake Crotalus atrox- the pride and favorite object of study of American biologists - was considered the champion in the lightning speed of the throw. This opinion was formed in the 19th century, although since then no one has bothered to check it. In 1954, the throwing speed of rattlesnakes was measured using high-speed photography and found to be somewhat lower than thought, but the primacy of these reptiles was still undisputed until chance intervened.

University of Louisiana associate professor Brad Moon assigned his graduate student David Penning the task of determining the relationship between snake throw speed and snake size. A graduate student set to work (with the help of student Baxter Sowell) and discovered an amazing thing: in gray climbing snakes Pantherophis obsoletus, with which young herpetologists worked, the throw speed was no less than that of a rattlesnake. At first, Penning thought he was wrong and checked his calculations many times. After making sure that there was no mistake, the researchers began targeted experiments, in which, in addition to 14 predatory, but non-poisonous snakes, representatives of the viper family took part: 6 water muzzle Agkistrodon piscivorus and 12 Texas rattlesnakes ( Biology Letters, 2016, 20160011, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2016.0011).

For measurements, the reptile was placed in a terrarium with a scale grid, where a glove stuffed with soft stuff was inserted on a wooden rod. The snake threw itself at this glove, and the researchers filmed everything that happened on a video camera that did 250 frames per second. Each snake was forced to make four to eight throws. Based on the video recordings, we calculated the distance between the snout of the snake and the target before the attack, the duration of the throw, maximum speed and acceleration. The calculation results are presented in the table. For comparison, the researchers added to it literary data on other representatives of the Viper family. From the table it follows that the gray snake attacks faster than many poisonous snakes.

Snake Throw Options

View	Acceleration, m/s 2	Speed, m/s	Distance cm	Duration, ms
Gray climbing snake Pantherophis obsoletus	191	2,7	17	75
water muzzle Agkistrodon piscivorus	175	3,1	14	66
Texas rattlesnake Crotalus atrox	157	2,7	11	69
Noisy viper Bitis arietans	72	2,6	21	87
Botrops Bothrops sp.	-	1,23	12,6	81
cottonmouth shengdao Gloydius shedaoensis	-	1,32	13	-
White-lipped keffiyeh Trimeresurus albolabris	62,1	1,52	12	85

All three studied species prey on small, nimble mammals and suffer from predation: raccoons, red-tailed hawks, foxes and coyotes are not averse to preying on snakes. To feed and survive, these snakes must act very quickly. Not surprisingly, their throwing parameters are similar, only the Texas rattlesnakes attack from a closer distance. Maximum values speeds during the attack ranged from 2.1 to 3.53 m/s, and accelerations - from 98 to 279 m/s 2 .

If the snake missed, it does not pursue prey, it is more profitable for it to bite the victim while it has not yet rushed to run. It takes a mammal between 14 and 151 ms to activate skeletal muscles, and to make a noticeable movement is at least 60-395 ms. Those 50–90 ms that the snake spends on a throw should be enough for it to attack: the beast has not yet had time to understand anything properly, but it has already been bitten. However, in vivo everything is more complicated than in the experimental terrarium, and snake hunting is far from being as effective as it follows from theoretical calculations. A snake or rattlesnake often has to rush at an animal that has already set in motion, and it is possible to overtake it thanks to the acceleration that the snake develops in this case. It is the magnitude of this acceleration, and not the fact that the gray snake is not inferior in attack speed to rattlesnakes, and is of the greatest interest.

The maximum accelerations that the researchers observed during the experiments - 274 m / s 2 for the snake and 279 m / s 2 for the rattlesnake - are about an order of magnitude greater than the acceleration that the black-tailed hare develops in the jump, and 30% more than in a kangaroo rat, in which, perhaps, such a reaction was formed in the course of evolution just under the threat of a snake attack.

Not only is the ability of the snake to accelerate like that, but also its amazing endurance, is amazing. People can't handle that kind of pressure. Pilots of jet fighters taking off from aircraft carriers experience accelerations of 27–49 m/s 2 . Without a special suit, they lose consciousness at accelerations slightly above 50 m/s 2 . Even in a special anti-gravity suit, pilots cannot get up from a sitting position at an acceleration of 30 m/s 2 and are unable to move their limbs at 78 m/s 2 . The snakes do not have a spacesuit, their head is far enough from the heart, which makes blood supply difficult, with such an acceleration, blood flow to the brain can stop completely, but the snakes, obviously, are saved by the short duration of the throw.

AT last years snake attacks attract the attention of many researchers. They find out what muscle activity allows quite heavy snakes to rush at the target with such speed, how they are affected by rapid braking at the end of the attack and the inevitable collision with the victim. It turned out, by the way, that the speed of the throw determines a lot, but not everything. It is also important to attack at a certain angle and close the mouth in time ( Journal of Experimental Zoology A, 2005, 303A, 476–488, doi:10.1002/jez.a.179). The aquatic muzzle, which leads a semi-aquatic lifestyle and hunts both fish and small rodents, is more successful on land, although the speed of attack in both environments is the same - the maximum acceleration reached about 75 m/s 2 . And the difference lies in the fact that on the ground, the snake, when attacking, raises its head much higher, opens its mouth wider and closes it faster.

Still the snakes amazing creatures. It turns out that we have not studied them very well. Someone will be more interested in the behavioral features that made the snakes such successful hunters, and to someone - their ability to withstand monstrous overloads without visible consequences.

To date, scientists know the species of snakes, which can rightfully be called the fastest in the whole world. We are talking about a reptile living in Africa - the black mamba. Few people in Europe know which snake is the fastest and that it lives on the southernmost continent of the world. However locals know her firsthand.

The fastest snake, whose speed can exceed 20 km / h, prefers life in the conditions of the savannah and steppes, but often visits the homes of people living in African countries. It is noteworthy that the existing myth that the black mamba can pursue the victim for a long time is just a fiction. She can move at great speed, but only for short distances. In this article, we will look at what is the fastest snake in the world where it lives, how it moves and the structure of the body.

habitats

The black mamba is exceptional african view snake. It is distributed throughout Africa, but the arid areas of the southern and eastern parts of the mainland are most preferred for it. The main habitats are savannas and woodlands. Mostly the fastest snake leads a terrestrial lifestyle, but sometimes climbs trees. The black mamba has a very wide range of habitats. These reptiles are often found in Namibia, KwaZulu-Natal, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Mozambique, Congo, Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. In addition, experts say that meetings with this reptile have been recorded more than once in the territories of Rwanda and Burundi.

The black mamba is not adapted to life on trees, therefore it lives in the savannas, among small shrubs. Often, in order to bask in the sun, she climbs a tree, but spends most of her life on the ground. In rare cases, the reptile settles in termite mounds and hollow trees. In addition, there are numerous cases when the fastest snake settled in people's houses. As a rule, it is attracted by small rodents adjacent to humans.

Appearance

What is the fast snake on land, the feature for which she got her name? Not everyone knows the answer to this question. This reptile got its name not for the color of the body, but for the peculiarity of the mouth, which gives it a creepy look. appearance and mortal danger to humans. The size of the fastest snake makes it the second largest venomous snake in the world after king cobra. In length, it can reach 4 meters, but this is the maximum size. The standard length of an average individual is from 2 to 3 meters.

Although this reptile bears such a name, its color is far from black. She got her name for the unusual jet-black color of her mouth. The body of the snake itself has a dark olive tint with a metallic sheen. At the same time, the back part, closer to the end of the tail, is darker than the rest of the body. The belly of the black mamba has a light brown color. Adults have a darker body color, juveniles are much lighter.

Black mamba skull

Like other types of snakes, this reptile has a diapsid-type skull with reduced temporal arches. In addition, it is also kinetic, which indicates the possibility of moving the bones apart. This function is especially important when swallowing food. The bones of the cranium are divided into a number of types: square, temporal, squamous and bones of the upper jaw. The jaws, both upper and lower, are separated by ligaments with good elasticity. They are also movably connected to each other, thanks to which the black mamba is able to swallow prey that exceeds the size of the mouth.

Jaws and teeth

The black mamba has well-developed teeth, which are present on both the upper and lower jaws. The teeth are 6.5 mm long. They are thin and very sharp. This is necessary for the gradual pushing of food into the esophagus.

It is noteworthy that the jaws and teeth of this reptile, like those of other snake species, are not designed for chewing function. In addition to small sharp teeth that serve as food guides, the black mamba has long poisonous teeth. They are hollow and directly connected to the glands that produce the poison. When a bite occurs, poison is injected through the poisonous teeth into the body of the victim. An interesting fact here is that the black mamba, unlike other poisonous snakes, does not make one bite, but a series for which it is able to inject up to 450 milligrams of poison. The lethal dose for humans is 10-15 milligrams.

One of the main features of the black mamba is the shape of its jaws. If you look closely at it, it may seem that the reptile is smiling. But this smile does not add to her prettiness. Having met with this creature, you need to be extremely careful. The bite of a black mamba in the leg area can kill a person in 2 hours, but if it hits the vein area, then the poison will be fatal in a few minutes.

Spine

Since this reptile does not have developed limbs, there are no specific sections in its spine. It has increased flexibility, uniformity and great length. It is noteworthy that the vertebrae are all absolutely identical and the same identical ribs are attached to them. Their number depends on the size of the snake. It is reliably known that the fastest snake can have up to 430 vertebrae. The sternum, like other snake species, is absent. Thanks to this feature, the snake can coil into rings as much as its length allows.

limbs

Like other species, the limbs of the world's fastest snake are atrophied. However, experts who examined several individuals from different corners Africa, found that snakes that live in the northern part of the mainland have minor vestiges of the pelvic bones. They are more pronounced than in the southern inhabitants.

How does the black mamba move?

The black mamba, like many other similar snake species, moves in two main ways. The first way is the so-called accordion movement. The reptile gathers the whole body together, then burying its tail on the surface of the earth, repels itself and, thanks to this, moves forward. After this movement, she pulls the back of her body, again gathering into a ball.

The second method of movement is caterpillar movement. With this method, the black mamba moves in a straight line and overcomes various crevices. It is noteworthy that it is precisely when moving on a flat, straight surface that it is able to develop its record high speed. When the snake moves in this way, it engages the ventral scales, plunging them into the ground. When the scales are underground, the reptile moves them towards the tail with the help of muscles. As a result, the scales in turn are repelled from the surface of the soil and set the body of the snake in motion. According to experts, with its movement of scales, this method resembles rowing with oars.