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Chrysopelea paradisi -- the paradise tree snake -- does just that, propelling through the air from trees in South and Southeast Asia.

Little was known about how such snakes "fly" before a team of scientists from Virginia Tech published a new research paper Monday.

Experts say the snakes glide through the air, so study lead author Isaac Yeaton told CNN the team set out to understand how they do so.

The snakes make an undulating motion as they move through the air, and researchers had been curious as to why they did it.

The team had a basic understanding of undulation, thanks to the work of study author Jake Socha, who has been studying the snakes for around 20 years, said Yeaton.

All snakes undulate when they move across the ground, but flying snakes also do it in the air.

You don't strictly need to undulate to fall, so that leads to the question 'well then why are they undulating,'" said Yeaton.

One hypothesis was that it was a base motor pattern for snakes built in over millions of years, but Yeaton said they now understand the undulation stabilizes the glide and stops the snake from tumbling, as well as allowing them to cover more horizontal distance.

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The researchers carried out indoor experiments with live snakes at Virginia Tech and also developed a computational model. "It's a big step forward," said Yeaton.

The next stage for researchers is to observe snakes jumping from trees -- or gliding -- outdoors, Yeaton said, as well as investigating how they generate lift and how they turn in the air.

He told CNN snakes are "question-generating organisms" and there are plenty more mysteries to be solved.

"As soon as you watch it you're like 'how does it do that?'" said Yeaton, who added that this might be why so many people are afraid of the reptiles.

"We have a visceral response to snakes," he said. "Then the idea that this animal can then fly is very unsettling to people."

The full research was published in the journal Nature Physics.

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ValCon888:
The snake is not really flying because It doesn't have wings to give it lift. Instead, it glides through the air.

It climbs up to a high elevation in a tree, springs itself, and jumps.
While in the air, it flattens the sides of its body to reduce drag which helps it cover a long distance as it falls.

The flying squirrel is the master of this concept.

ValCon888:
The snake is not really flying because It doesn't have wings to give it lift. Instead, it glides through the air.

It climbs up to a high elevation in a tree, springs itself, and jumps.
While in the air, it flattens the sides of its body to reduce drag which helps it cover a long distance as it falls.

The flying squirrel is the master of this concept.

ValCon888:
The snake is not really flying because It doesn't have wings to give it lift. Instead, it glides through the air.

It climbs up to a high elevation on a tree, springs itself, and jumps.
While in the air, it flattens the sides of its body to reduce drag and create lift which helps it cover a long distance as it falls.

The flying squirrel is the master of this concept.

nimstrik:
Jesus, through air

Openbusiness2:

Gliding is a form of flying. Birds glides too, kites glide etc

ValCon888:
The snake is not really flying because It doesn't have wings to give it lift. Instead, it glides through the air.

It climbs up to a high elevation on a tree, springs itself, and jumps.
While in the air, it flattens the sides of its body to reduce drag and create lift which helps it cover a long distance as it falls.

The flying squirrel is the master of this concept.

Openbusiness2:

Gliding is a form of flying. Birds glides too, kites glide etc