A Wonderleaf question
Why do snakes shed their skin?
a real page from the book
Snakes shed because their outer skin does not stretch enough as their bodies grow. A new layer forms underneath, and the old one loosens until the snake can rub it open and crawl out. Shedding also helps remove worn scales and small hitchhikers from the body.
The castoff skin can keep the snake’s shape, even the cloudy covers from its eyes. The snake usually starts at the mouth, then works forward until the old layer turns back on itself, leaving a pale sleeve called a shed behind.
Wonder words
- scales
- shed
- layer
- slither
Try it out
Put a sock on one hand, pinch the toe with the other hand, and pull it off inside out.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
Open the picture bookKeep wondering
One more wonder: Why is space so dark?
And the next question?
Ask anything — Wonderleaf writes and illustrates a picture book for it. That's the whole idea.
Ask your own questionThe next wonder, by email
A new question goes up every Sunday evening. We email it to you Monday morning, free to read that week.
One wonder a week, nothing else, ever. Unsubscribe in one click.