Snakes can move their bodies like lassos, a totally new mode of locomotion

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Snakes don’t just slither. For the past century, those who study snake movement have documented that snakes move in four ways: rectilinear, lateral undulation, sidewinding, and concertina.1

But researchers have uncovered a new type of snake movement that lets the invasive brown tree snake climb tall, smooth cylinders in a way they never knew before. They call the movement lasso locomotion in a study in the journal Current Biology. 

Researchers made the unexpected discovery while working on a project targeted at protecting the nest of Micronesia starlings. 

They suspected the nocturnal snakes couldn’t move up the smooth cylinders to prey on Micronesian starlings, a species that is not endangered but is dwindling on Guam.

They were wrong. Video cameras placed near the experimental bird boxes revealed a snake roping its body around the pole, using this “lasso” to wiggle upward.

“We just kind of looked at each other in shock. I mean, this wasn't something a snake was supposed to be able to do,” says Seibert.

It’s “so unusual and wild,” says Sara Ruane, an evolutionary biologist at Rutgers University who not involved with the study. “I couldn’t get over it.”

Sources: 1, 2

[TSUNAMI 21,297]

kss kss

 

 

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Taylor learned new dance moves I see

 

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ta-dum-tss

 

 

[Tinnitus15 51,886]

Those bitches keep evolving 

[FFXIV WhiteMage 6,310]

I once went to a church when I was young and a green snake fell from the ceiling. 

[A MESS 3,938]

when will the snakes move like this tho

 

[RAMROD 117,040]

Can confirmT. One of my ex-friend is a snake. He can do autofellatio. And no, he is not contortionists 

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46 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

He can do autofellatio. 

 

Honestly, jealous 

[RAMROD 117,040]

5 minutes ago, TSUNAMI said:

Honestly, jealous 

Same tbh. 

[Oriane 22,761]

This is all I can think about

 

[heygurlhi 3,200]

great last thing we needed is lasso snakes thnx 

[Max 22,003]

As someone who is extremely scared of snakes this terrifies and sends me at the same time 

[Magui 2,654]

Impressive... but to me personally it's a bit scary lol. I know every animal is important, but i simply can't with snakes, I'm just afraid of them.

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the snakes: