Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2014 September 4

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September 4

Do salamanders slither?

Would it be accurate or inaccurate to describe the motion of a typical salamander as "slithering"? —SeekingAnswers (reply) 19:28, 4 September 2014 (UTC)

Yes. "Slither" is a perfectly reasonable description of that sort of motion. There is (allegedly) a Sanskrit proverb "A slithering lizard does not become a snake on account of slithering", and salamanders would probably be described as "lizards" by a non-biologist. Tevildo (talk) 19:58, 4 September 2014 (UTC)

There are legless lizards, forced to slither, which don't become snakes despite a strong resemblance. I imagine the alleged proverb was about them. Most laymen could always tell snake from salamander, I hope, if not always reptile from amphibian. InedibleHulk (talk) 09:40, 7 September 2014 (UTC)

Dictionary.com defines slither as "to go or walk with a sliding motion". Snakes certainly slither, but it doesn't seem to me that either lizards or (non-legless) salamanders slither. They just walk or run straight forward, which is why I'm skeptical of describing the motion of lizards or salamanders as "slithering". —SeekingAnswers (reply) 04:04, 5 September 2014 (UTC)

Amphiuma seem to slither, they aren't much in the way of walkers. --Jayron32 20:38, 4 September 2014 (UTC)

I guess I see how that salamander might be mistaken. InedibleHulk (talk) 09:44, 7 September 2014 (UTC)

I'd describe slithering as walking but with the belly sliding on the ground, many lizards don't slither but the heavier ones with small legs certainly do. If the salamander's belly does not slide on the ground when it walks then it is not slithering, but maybe waddling. Richard Avery (talk) 09:02, 5 September 2014 (UTC)

Grape Identification

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  Unidentified grapes, growing in South-East Michigan near Detroit
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  Unidentified grapes, growing in South-East Michigan near Detroit
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  Unidentified grape leaf, back.
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  Unidentified grape leaf, front.

These are growing in my lawn, I am located in Southern Michigan, just West of Detroit. What kind of grapes are these? --21:17, 4 September 2014 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Culinandy (talk • contribs) 17:17, September 4, 2014‎

I'm no expert, and I'm sure one can bring much more to the table, but I think we should start with fox grapes and Concord grapes. I'm expecting skin that comes off easily, delicious flavor, and several hard little seeds that just about require wisdom teeth to crack. Wnt (talk) 23:13, 4 September 2014 (UTC)

Vitis riparia is also a definite possibility. Deor (talk) 23:34, 4 September 2014 (UTC)

They sure look like Concords to me. And I want some now. --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 01:10, 5 September 2014 (UTC)