Paradise Flying Snake Truly Falls With Style

Although it may sound like science fiction, flying snakes are very real. Researchers like Jake Socha at Virginia Tech have studied these animals in detail using slow motion photography and virtual experiments to understand how snakes fly.

The results are remarkable, showing that these reptiles use a form of aerial undulation that resembles a vertical wave, allowing their snake's body to stay aloft for longer horizontal distances.

In terms of taxonomy, Chrysopelea paradisi belongs to the colubrid snakes, a family that includes many nonvenomous and mildly venomous species. The paradise flying snake is considered mildly venomous, with rear fangs located toward the back of its jaw, a trait it shares with other colubrid snakes.

Though not listed among the most venomous snakes, it still uses posterior maxillary fangs to produce venom that helps subdue its prey, which consists mostly of lizards and other animals.

This snake typically grows 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 meters meter) long and displays visible characteristics like a flattened, flattened strip-like body and markings such as yellow and black flecks and bold orange or red markings along its spine.

This striking coloration aids in camouflage in its preferred habitat: the trees of south and southeast Asia. Its cross sectional body expands as it leaps, forming a concave shape that provides lift and stability.

It starts when the snake jumps from a tree or window grill, anchoring part of its body while extending outward. The head remains rigid as the rest of the body begins to move in an S-shaped motion.

This controlled flight technique allows the snake to glide across floor space or between trees, a skill comparable to a flying squirrel. Motion capture and experimental biology studies suggest the glide is not just a fall but a suggesting controlled flight mechanism honed over time.

The snake undulates with intention; its ability to maneuver while airborne is so precise, researchers believe it evolved this trait to escape predators or hunt efficiently.

The paradise flying snake prefers forests but can also be seen around human habitats, sometimes observed scaling walls or gliding from rooftops. Though they are venomous snakes, their venom poses little risk to humans.

Still, their bold colors and gliding antics can be startling.

Despite their remarkable skills, paradise flying snakes are not typically considered good pets due to their specialized care needs and instinct to roam. Their name, paradisi, means "park" in Latin, likely referring to their leafy forest homes where they were first found.

In nature, few animals combine such specialized movement and predatory behavior. The paradise flying snake continues to captivate scientists and animal lovers alike, reminding us that flight is not limited to birds, bats, or insects.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.