Anyone who approaches a snake rapidly ends up being mindful of the flaky reptile’s defense mechanism. Some snakes wriggle away. Some grace to bite the approacher. Others remain still and conceal in their environments.
This snake in Malaysia has a more uncommon escape technique: it cartwheels, according to a research study released April 5 in the journal Biotropica.
The dwarf reed snake, or Pseudorabdion longiceps, is a small, “secretive and generally nocturnal snake,” scientists said. The reptile lives partly underground and conceals amongst rocks, logs and leaves. It is discovered throughout Thailand, parts of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and other neighboring islands.
Researchers found a dwarf reed snake near Mount Jerai in Kedah, northern Malaysia and approached the animal, the research study said. The “startled” snake started “throwing the coils of its body into a loop and began rolling to try and escape,” scientists said.
Cartwheeling, the snake got about 5 feet away in under 5 seconds, the research study said. Still, it wasn’t rather quick enough.
The scientists recorded the snake and put it on a flat location to see if it would cartwheel once again. Repeatedly, the snake revealed the exact same “rare escape mechanism,” the research study said.
Another dwarf reed snake was recorded cartwheeling far from observers in Lenggong, a location about 105 miles southeast of Mount Jerai, scientists said. The YouTube video of this encounter reveals the little snake twirling away after being tapped with a stick.
Researchers explained the cartwheeling as a “novel escape behaviour,” understood anecdotally however not officially recorded previously.
In order to cartwheel, the snake curls into an “S” shape then releases itself like a spring, the research study said. It loops its body in the air, strikes the ground and relaunches to keep the rolling momentum going.
Researchers explained this uncommon behaviour as a method for the snake to get away faster while possibly surprising or complicated predators. Additionally, the cartwheeling motion leaves “a patchy scent trail” making it harder for scent-oriented predators to track the reptile, the research study said.
Still, researchers state more research study is required to comprehend more about the cartwheeling defense reaction.
Dwarf reed snakes are likewise called the long-headed reed snake or Cantor’s dwarf reed snake, according to Thai National Parks authorities.
Mount Jerai has to do with 260 miles northwest of Kuala Lumpur, the nation’s capital, and near the border of Malaysia and Thailand. – The Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service
