Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 day ago
Videos show how tiny Southeast Asian snakes cartwheel to escape danger
Researchers filmed three Pseudorabdion snake species cartwheeling on a track in a lab after a colleague reported seeing the unusual movement in Malaysia.
The small snakes, found in Southeast Asia, use the move to get away from danger.
Each snake curls its body, lifts its head and whips its tail behind it.
It then swings its tail over its head and brings it down to the ground, starting another roll with each tail landing.
The snakes reached speeds of 1.7 to 3.7 metres per second, while comparison snakes from another genus did not cartwheel.
They kept their heads fairly steady and facing forward, even as their bodies rolled at speed.
Researchers say they still want to understand how the movement evolved and what features allow the snakes to do it.
Videos show three Southeast Asian Pseudorabdion snake species cartwheeling in laboratory tests.
The snakes curl into a C shape, whip their tails forward and use each landing to begin another roll.
Researchers filmed the snakes on a 2.2-meter track and reported their findings in Current Biology on October 19.
The snakes cartwheeled at 1.7 to 3.7 meters per second, while the comparison Calamaria snakes did not.
The researchers say the videos provide a closer look at a rare way of moving that helps the snakes flee danger.
- Who
- Researchers from Toho University studied Pseudorabdion snakes, including the dwarf reed snake.
- What
- Videos show the snakes cartwheeling. Researchers described how they move.
- When
- The study was published October 19, 2026.
- Where
- The snakes were filmed on a laboratory racetrack after being collected from Kubah National Park in Malaysia.
- Why
- The behavior is used to escape danger. Why the snakes can perform it is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Yosuke Kojima heard from a colleague in Sarawak, Malaysia, about witnessing the snakes’ unusual behavior.
Scientists shared snapshots of a dwarf reed snake cartwheeling away from danger.
Researchers published their study and videos of three Pseudorabdion species in Current Biology.
- Study journal
- Current Biology
- Racetrack length
- 2.2 meters
- Cartwheeling speed
- 1.7 to 3.7 meters per second
- Study site
- Kubah National Park, Malaysia
- Snakes collected
- 11 P. saravacense, one P. collaris, one P. longiceps and six Calamaria snakes
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What people are saying
What a cool snake behavior
They always hide under the leaves
We are quicker than them.