While people may be vaguely amused at the mention of flying squirrels and sugar gliders, seeing a snake in "flight" may be an unnerving sight for most people. According to the findings of a research study, these flying snakes are able to glide across impressive distances by flattening out their bodies and positioning themselves in an S-shaped profile with similar aerodynamic properties to flying saucers.
Flying snakes can't actually fly. However, they can glide across the air to cover as much as 100 meters in slow and controlled descent. To do this, the snakes use rough ridges located on their bellies to climb up tall trees. Once they have climbed to a sufficient height, the daring reptiles then launch themselves into the air in one of the most unusual aerial displays in the animal kingdom.
Flying snakes can be found in a number of South East Asian countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines. According to the findings of the researchers from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the State University in Blacksburg, flying snakes can achieve an aerodynamically stable shape by flexing their ribs. While biologists are currently uncertain why these snakes glide through the air, current theories indicate that this behavior may be a means of escaping predators or catching prey. Moreover, flying snakes may also be using their gliding maneuvers as a convenient way to move from treetop to treetop.
"A prominent feature of gliding flight in snakes of the genus Chrysopelea is the unique cross-sectional shape of the body, which acts as the lifting surface in the absence of wings," said the research team. "When gliding, the flying snake Chrysopelea paradisi morphs its circular cross-section into a triangular shape by splaying its ribs and flattening its body in the dorsoventral axis, forming a geometry with fore-aft symmetry and a thick profile."
Researcher Jake Socha and his colleagues were able to deduce the inner workings of a flying snake's gliding abilities with the use of a 3D printer. To understand how these snakes move through the air, the team printed a three dimensional rod to mimic the body of a flying snake. Moreover, the rod was also designed with a UFO-like cross section similar to that of a snake's body mid-glide. To understand the aerodynamics of a flying snake, the team submerged the rod in a tank with flowing water. While adjusting the angle of the rod relative to the flow of water, the scientists took measurements of how the rod behaved at different angles.
After analyzing the data, the researchers found evidence that the flying snakes were actually gliding more efficiently compared to what their data suggested. The team is now taking steps to understand how these snakes are boosting the efficiency of their gliding abilities. The researchers have published their paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
