These Terrifying Snakes Can Fly

What would you do if a snake flew straight at your face? Well, if you happened to go exploring in the forests of South or Southeast Asia, one of these soaring serpents could come slithering out of the sky right at your head. Absolutely terrifying.

Flying snakes, or chrysopelea, can glide vertically, giving the impression of flying through the air. These slippery creatures can “fly” up to 7 m (23 ft) if they launch themselves from an elevated starting point. The reptiles rotate their ribs to flatten themselves out. These snakes use this flat shape to ride up into the air, using gravity to help them accelerate.

Flying snakes are the only known limbless vertebrates that can fly. What makes these snakes able to fly? Could these reptiles attack you in the air?

00:00 Snakes in the sky
00:36 Mechanics of flying
03:30 Why these snakes fly
04:00 Killer snakes
04:40 Snake innovation


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#Reptiles #ChrysopeleaOrnata #TerrifyingSnakes #FlyingSnakes #Aerodynamics #SoutheastAsia