Concertina movement

Concertina movement is the movement occurring in snakes and other legless organisms that consists of gripping with portions of the body while pulling/pushing other sections in the direction of movement. Movement is irregular, with parts of the snake alternately stopping and moving. This movement appears to be quite strenuous and slow compared to other methods of locomotion, and energetic studies show that it takes more calories per meter to use concertina locomotion than either sidewinding or lateral undulation. The only kinematic study focused exclusively on its use to move through tunnels. Studies on the kinematics of arboreal concertina locomotion are currently underway.