How Do Snakes Move?

How does a snake move without any legs? The answer is SCALES and MUSCLES! A snake's belly is covered with wide, flat scales called ventral scales. These scales grip the ground like tiny hooks. The snake uses hundreds of pairs of muscles attached to its ribs to push against the ground in a wave-like motion. The most common movement is called lateral undulation — the snake makes S-shaped curves, pushing off rocks and bumps in the ground. It looks like a wave flowing through the snake's body!