# Can a snake tie itself into a knot it can’t get out of? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [October 31, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-snake-tie-itself-into-a-knot-it-can-t-get-out-of/703174 "2014-10-31T22:54:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-snake-tie-itself-into-a-knot-it-can-t-get-out-of/703174/1 "2014-10-31T22:54:23Z")
The column: [Can a snake tie itself into a knot it can’t get out of? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3186/can-a-snake-tie-itself-into-a-knot-it-can-t-get-out-of) A related thread on hagfish: [Hagfish - Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739184) Very interesting column - I learned a lot. Steven Wright told a similar joke: “I used to work in a pet store. We had three snakes. One day, business was slow, so I braided them and tried to convince people it was a three-headed snake. ‘Oh, yes, it’s very rare. It’s from Connecticut.’” ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-snake-tie-itself-into-a-knot-it-can-t-get-out-of/703174/2 "2014-11-03T14:26:42Z")
You had me at “Steven Wright.” ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-snake-tie-itself-into-a-knot-it-can-t-get-out-of/703174/3 "2014-11-03T14:46:05Z")
Another method of snake movement was not mentioned, unless that was what was described as “concertina movement.” If so, it was not described well. Each of the large belly scales (scutes) matches to a pair of ribs. The muscles attached to the ribs allow the snake to move the scutes in a wave fashion, such that the snake moves forward without lateral undulations. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-snake-tie-itself-into-a-knot-it-can-t-get-out-of/703174/4 "2014-11-03T16:20:48Z")
> [@RiverRunner](#): > > You had me at “Steven Wright.” Love the guy! ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-snake-tie-itself-into-a-knot-it-can-t-get-out-of/703174/5 "2014-11-03T17:43:00Z")
That is one of the best, informative, and wittiest columns of The Man I’ve ever read. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-snake-tie-itself-into-a-knot-it-can-t-get-out-of/703174/6 "2014-11-03T18:11:39Z")
> [@MacLir](#): > > Another method of snake movement was not mentioned, unless that was what was described as “concertina movement.” If so, it was not described well. > > Each of the large belly scales (scutes) matches to a pair of ribs. The muscles attached to the ribs allow the snake to move the scutes in a wave fashion, such that the snake moves forward without lateral undulations. Yes, that is basically what was intended. Una **For the Straight Dope**.