The Kinetics of Locomotion of the Grass-Snake

Abstract

ABSTRACT The propulsion of an undulating grass-snake, Natrix (Tropidonotus) natrix, depends on the ability of the animal to adopt a sinusoidal form and brace the lateral surface of its body against rigid external objects (Gray, 1946). Under such conditions the forces acting normally to the sides of the body provide a propulsive force equal but opposite to the frictional forces tending to restrain the motion of the animal. The present paper represents an attempt to give quantitative expression to these conclusions by observation of the forces acting against the body of a living snake.