How do snakes swim?

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Snakes may not have any arms or legs to paddle or kick their way through the water, but they can swim!  Some snakes don’t really like the water.  They prefer the dry land, while other snakes spend most of their lives in the sea!

All snakes swim in pretty much the same way.  They curve their bodies in a special way when they’re in the water.  They’ll turn left, and then they’ll turn right. They’ll repeat that again and again!  Picture them making a shape like a big “S” as they swim. Each time they turn, they push the water behind them with their bodies, and this pushes them forward! 

Keep Your Head Above Water.

Have you learned how to swim?  Swimming can be a lot of fun either at the beach or in a pool.  It takes practice to keep yourself floating, so always have a grown-up with you when you go swimming.

Snakes don’t have arms and legs like we do to help them swim, but they are lucky enough to be very long and thin.  Their weight is spread out over a large amount of water, without too much weight resting on one point.  This helps them float and not sink.   Most people can float if they lie on their backs on top of the water too.  

Snakes also have lungs, just like people, that they use to breathe.  Filling their lungs with air by taking a deep breath helps them stay floating.  People can do the same thing.   The air inside our lungs wants to float on top of the water, so it helps us float.

Has a grown-up ever put special floats on your arms to help you swim?  Why do you think they help you stay above water?  You might have special toys that you bring in the pool with you.  Do they float or sink?  Why do you think that is?