Flying Snakes… and Leaping Lizards | National Geographic

this is no ordinary snake what makes it

this is no ordinary snake what makes it so unusual is not its ability to slither

so unusual is not its ability to slither

so unusual is not its ability to slither up a tree like this many snakes are able

up a tree like this many snakes are able

up a tree like this many snakes are able to use their belly scales to push

to use their belly scales to push

to use their belly scales to push against tree bark allowing them to

against tree bark allowing them to

against tree bark allowing them to undulate upwards know what makes this

undulate upwards know what makes this

undulate upwards know what makes this tree snake so unusual is its interest in

tree snake so unusual is its interest in

tree snake so unusual is its interest in well one might say passion for becoming

well one might say passion for becoming

well one might say passion for becoming airborne these are flying snakes they

airborne these are flying snakes they

airborne these are flying snakes they fly from tree to tree why well probably

fly from tree to tree why well probably

fly from tree to tree why well probably because here in Indonesia it’s the

because here in Indonesia it’s the

because here in Indonesia it’s the quickest most efficient way to get from

quickest most efficient way to get from

quickest most efficient way to get from here to there the snake flattens its

here to there the snake flattens its

here to there the snake flattens its body into a ribbon shape launches itself

body into a ribbon shape launches itself

body into a ribbon shape launches itself and then swims through the air actually

and then swims through the air actually

and then swims through the air actually since the snake can’t fly upward it

since the snake can’t fly upward it

since the snake can’t fly upward it might better be called a parachuting

might better be called a parachuting

might better be called a parachuting snake of course two can play at this

snake of course two can play at this

snake of course two can play at this flying game this is the flying dragon

flying game this is the flying dragon

flying game this is the flying dragon lizard the snakes interest in the flying

lizard the snakes interest in the flying

lizard the snakes interest in the flying dragon lizard is entirely culinary he

dragon lizard is entirely culinary he

dragon lizard is entirely culinary he wants to eat it the flying dragon puffs

wants to eat it the flying dragon puffs

wants to eat it the flying dragon puffs itself up as a warning

itself up as a warning

itself up as a warning the snake seems unimpressed

the snake seems unimpressed

the snake seems unimpressed or at least undaunted I mean a meal is a

or at least undaunted I mean a meal is a

or at least undaunted I mean a meal is a meal is a meal sorry got a fly on either

meal is a meal sorry got a fly on either

meal is a meal sorry got a fly on either side of the dragon’s body are thin wing

side of the dragon’s body are thin wing

side of the dragon’s body are thin wing like folds of skin supported by five to

like folds of skin supported by five to

like folds of skin supported by five to seven ribs that extend from the body

seven ribs that extend from the body

seven ribs that extend from the body with its wings extended it’s capable of

with its wings extended it’s capable of

with its wings extended it’s capable of flying for distances of up to 30 feet if

flying for distances of up to 30 feet if

flying for distances of up to 30 feet if the snake is a parachutist but dragon is

the snake is a parachutist but dragon is

the snake is a parachutist but dragon is a glider oh nice flight and great

a glider oh nice flight and great

a glider oh nice flight and great landing and terrific self rescue