But how do ball pythons move??

so this might be a REALLY silly question, but i can't seem to wrap my head around how ball pythons (and most other snakes that don't sidewind. actually scratch that i don't understand sidewinders either.) move? like i've seen my girl get herself almost completely straight and still be moving forwards. i've looked up the explanation- something to do with them gripping with their belly scales, but like... are they perpetually pushing themselves off of one of their curves? is there some internal inch-worming going on? i was hoping for google to spit out a diagram or some kind of visual but apparently not, and honestly at this point i'm not entirely convinced that they're not just using telepathy. anyone know what the exact mechanics of their propulsion is?

The one you're describing (I believe) is the Rectilinear method, which is where they use the wider scales on their belly to grip the ground, while using the others to push forward with the others. Another might be the Serpentine method, the sidewinding method - they're probably not as likely to use this as some other snakes would, and the concertina method. Search some of them up. :)

The belly scales do grip and then tilt to move the snake forward. You can sort of think of it like a whole bunch of tiny legs, sort of like a centipede, each teeny step moves it forward but there's a lot so it moves pretty well.

I've seen mine use all methods Streller stated. :D The way I always imagined, it almost seems like they have a bunch of internal rabbit feet that are alternating gripping, pushing back, and lifting, pushing themselves forward.

huh. how cool! thank you all!

as of watching my girl really closely, when she gets too straight and runs out of momentum, she seems to... idk, start making parts of herself curve into a bunch of S's, while (usually) her front half stays still? i'm assuming she's gripping with her front scales and bunching her back, then gripping with her back while she unbunches herself. either way it's really cool to watch!

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Originally Posted by Bea

huh. how cool! thank you all!

as of watching my girl really closely, when she gets too straight and runs out of momentum, she seems to... idk, start making parts of herself curve into a bunch of S's, while (usually) her front half stays still? i'm assuming she's gripping with her front scales and bunching her back, then gripping with her back while she unbunches herself. either way it's really cool to watch!

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Indeed, it's fascinating how snakes have developed these different methods to move in order to compensate for the lack of feet and limbs.

killer abs

I really like this thread. :)

glad you're entertained ^.^
on a side note- why exactly do they have those squishy cheeks? i don't think they're true cheeks or extra skin pouches or anything, since they're still there while they're feeding...

I haven't a clue what you mean, or why they would have such an attribute. :P