[Merged]Flying Snakes: Aerodynamic Secrets Revealed

[Still Waters]

In many respects, the Paradise tree snake, Chrysopelea paradise, is unremarkable. It is black and green with clusters of red, orange and yellow scales along its back. It grows to about 3 feet in length and is mildly venomous, although its tiny fangs make it harmless to humans.

Oh, and one other thing: the Paradise tree snake can fly. It is the best known of five species of snake that launch themselves out of trees and glide to the ground. Indeed, the Paradise tree snake is the best flyer of all.

https://medium.com/t...og/6fb239e1b977

http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.2969

[PlanB]

So that's how snakes get on a plane.

[seeder]

Well I'd not heard of this before. Flying snakes? Its bad enough that they slither.. but flying? Sort of anyway

Mystery of how snakes FLY solved: Reptiles glide from tall trees by flexing their ribs

* Using 3D printers, a team of researchers discovered the snakes' secret

* The creatures flex their ribs to flatten out their body to glide from trees

Never mind the cult movie Snakes on a Plane - scientists have shown how some serpents can fly.

Paradise flying snakes and banded flying snakes are able to 'slither' through the air in Asian rainforests. Adopting an S-shape, they are able to glide almost 100 feet from tall trees.

'They look like they are swimming,' said study leader Dr Jake Socha, from Virginia Tech Wake Forest University in the U.S. 'They turn their whole body into one aerodynamic surface.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2548217/Mystery-snakes-FLY-solved-Reptiles-glide-tall-trees-flexing-ribs.html#ixzz2rsOspki0