Which term describes a method of locomotion in snakes that involves bending and straightening the body?

Explore the Academic Decathlon Science Test. Practice with quizzes and in-depth explanations to boost your exam readiness and improve your scores.

Multiple Choice

Which term describes a method of locomotion in snakes that involves bending and straightening the body?

Explanation:
Snake movement often relies on changing the body shape to push against the environment. The term described here refers to an accordion-like method where the body forms bends or folds, anchors a part of itself to the surface, and then straightens and re-bends to pull forward. This “concertina” style lets the snake advance in steps: you grab a section with one part of the body, bend the rest into a new shape to reach forward, then extend and repeat, gaining ground even in tight spaces. That pulling-with-anchored-segments and repeating bend-and-straighten is the hallmark of concertina locomotion. While other modes also involve bending, the concertina pattern is specifically about alternating anchor points and folding to propel the body forward, which is why it’s the best fit here. Fang and venom refer to teeth and venom, not movement.

Snake movement often relies on changing the body shape to push against the environment. The term described here refers to an accordion-like method where the body forms bends or folds, anchors a part of itself to the surface, and then straightens and re-bends to pull forward. This “concertina” style lets the snake advance in steps: you grab a section with one part of the body, bend the rest into a new shape to reach forward, then extend and repeat, gaining ground even in tight spaces. That pulling-with-anchored-segments and repeating bend-and-straighten is the hallmark of concertina locomotion. While other modes also involve bending, the concertina pattern is specifically about alternating anchor points and folding to propel the body forward, which is why it’s the best fit here. Fang and venom refer to teeth and venom, not movement.

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