00:00When it comes to staying alive, sometimes speed is king, whether it's dodging danger or chasing down your dinner.
00:12And the first creature on our countdown uses its speed not only to catch its lunch, but to stop itself from roasting alive in one of the world's harshest environments.
00:24The Sahara Desert is an absolute scorcher. It's one of the driest and hottest places on the planet.
00:33Air temperatures rise above a blistering 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
00:38But the sand cranks up the heat by another 40 degrees. It's hot enough to fry an egg.
00:44Surviving here isn't for the faint-hearted, but the Horned Viper has some seriously clever tricks hidden in its coils.
00:54To avoid dehydration, its scales are ridged to trap the morning dew.
00:59This provides a refreshing stash of fresh water, which can be accessed throughout the day.
01:05But its real party piece is only revealed when it decides to move.
01:12The Horned Viper lends itself to a more common name, the Sidewinder.
01:21This lateral movement halves the area of the snake's body that would normally make contact with the burning hot sand.
01:29Using a combination of horizontal and vertical undulating waves, the Sidewinder essentially walks its way across the sand.
01:39Launching loops of its body forwards, with only two points touching the ground at any one time.
01:45The waves remain out of phase with each other by 90 degrees,
01:50making sure that every bit of the snake gets its fair share of time off that scorching surface.
01:57And clocking in at up to 18 miles per hour, the Sidewinder leaves all other snakes in its dust.
02:05The End
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02:17The End
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