How Snakes Can "Fly"

[struggle4progress]

Ker Than
for National Geographic News
Published November 23, 2010

It's been known for a while that certain snake species can "fly," gliding as far as 330 feet (100 meters) from branch to branch—but how?

A new study—using unprecedented filming, 3-D modeling, and snakes both real and plastic—has shown how flying snakes angle and arrange themselves to achieve optimal lift.

Found in Southeast and South Asia, five Chrysopelea snake species have been observed twisting their ribs and flattening their bodies in midair, but this doesn't fully explain how the reptiles control their descent ...

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/101124-flying-snakes-fly-science-darpa-dod-socha/

[damntexdem]

1. Easy: they can be quickly patted down by TSA.

But they may be deep scanned if they show suspicious lumps in their digestive systems.

;-)

But I am so MFing sick of those MFing snakes on the MFing planes. ;-)

[Tesha]

2. Suspicious lumps like this?

[struggle4progress]

5. "That is why, at the age of six, I gave up what might have been a magnificent career as a painter.

I had been disheartened by the failure of my Drawing Number One and my Drawing Number Two. Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them."

[DBoon]

3. Snakes on a Plane!

that's how they fly

[wryter2000]

4. Watch the video

OMG, snakes are so unbelievably cool. The lizard is a little treasure, too. :loveya: snakes.

[Kennah]

6. In first class