Physics of Snakeskin Sheds Light on Specialized Sidewinding Locomotion of Sidewinder Snakes – Brinkwire

Microscopic look reveals differences in the surfaces of snakes bellies.
Most snakes get from A to B by bending their bodies into S-shapes and slithering forward headfirst.
A few species, however found in the deserts of North America, Africa and the Middle East have an odder way of getting around. Known as sidewinders, these snakes lead with their mid-sections instead of their heads, slinking sideways across loose sand.
Scientists took a microscopic look at the skin of sidewinders to see if it plays…

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