A slithering snake gets a leg up from its scales, which provide much needed friction when moving forward, scientists report online June 8 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. On a flat surface, the grip provided by scales goes hand in hand with a precise redistribution of body weight, suggesting snakes tailor their gait to their environment.

Found in "Friction gives snakes a smooth slither" at: sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/44464/title/Friction_gives_snakes_a_smooth_slither

Credit : David Hu, Georgia Institute of Technology