Watch bizarre snake 'cartwheel' away from danger at more than 12 feet per second

Dwarf reed snakes in Southeast Asia possess an extraordinary ability to evade predators by cartwheeling away at impressive speeds. Instead of slithering, these snakes arch their bodies and rotate their lower half while keeping their heads relatively fixed, according to a study published in Current Biology. Researchers filmed the snakes from various angles and discovered that they can reach velocities of up to 12.1 feet per second (3.69 meters per second), significantly faster than their normal undulating locomotion.

Kojima, the study's first author, explained that the rolling behavior allows the snakes to escape danger much quicker than other methods. Dwarf reed snakes are mostly nocturnal and reside in various Southeast Asian regions, where they face threats from birds and other snakes. The researchers observed the rolling behavior in three species of dwarf reed snakes, P. saravacense, P. collaris, and P. longiceps, and compared it with a non-rolling species, Calamaria.

The study highlights the snakes' remarkable ability to maintain control during the acrobatic maneuvers, which could surprise or confuse predators and make it difficult for them to locate the snakes through scent trails.