MIKLASZ, K.A.*; SOCHA, J.J.; University of Chicago; Argonne National Laboratory: Mathematical modeling of flying snake kinematics during gliding locomotion

Flying snake (Colubridae: Chrysopelea) gliding kinematics are highly complex and dynamic relative to those of other vertebrate gliders. In mid-glide, flying snakes pass high-amplitude lateral traveling waves posteriorly down the body. Flying snakes also use substantial vertical motion relative to the center of mass, particularly in the posterior body. However, previous studies have not been able to accurately describe these kinematics due to decreasing spatial resolution as the snakes glided (a consequence of the position of the paired videocameras) and the small number of landmarks on the snakes. In this study, we recorded video from four cameras focused on the gliding phase of the trajectory and used five landmarks on the snakes to digitize and reconstruct the 3D coordinates at a sampling frequency of 60 Hz. Coordinate data from eight trials were used to create mathematical models of the snakes’ gliding kinematics. In particular, sine functions were fit to side-to-side movement, and second-order polynomials were fit to movement in the vertical plane. These models will allow us to test if the snakes achieved equilibrium gliding and if fine-scale changes in kinematics produced changes in gliding performance. In the future, these mathematical models will be used to create physical models for use in studies of snake gliding aerodynamics.