Animal experts have wondered how snakes are able to slide across various terrains so easily on their bellies, and now scientists have new evidence that says a layer of "highly organized fatty molecules," could be the source of their slither, according to the Daily Mail.
Researchers from different countries have studied the skin of snakes and found that all over their bodies they have what is essentially a layer of grease.
"When snakes slide on the ground, how do they reduce friction and not scrape away their skin?" said Joe Baio, head of the study. "The coefficient of friction for the belly of the snake... is a lot lower than the top of the snake - so it's somehow reducing friction on its stomach side."
This fatty lipid allows snakes to be slippery, but the bottom of a snake is noticeably more slippery, and Baio's research suggests that it's because of the molecular order of the lipids on the belly, according to BBC News.
"It's extremely, extremely well ordered. It's not just some grease they picked up. It's there for a reason," he said.
The team believes the snake's ability comes from a line of evolutionary upgrades, so to speak, that allow for such smooth, unhindered movement, according to Science Daily.
