Facts on Sidewinder Rattlesnakes

The sidewinder is also referred to as the horned rattlesnake.

Sidewinder rattlesnakes (Crotalus cerastes) are native to the American Southwest and northern Mexico, specifically in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. Sidewinders are among the smallest of the rattlesnakes and have a relatively mild venom, though they are still considered dangerous. The sidewinder shares its name with a venomous adder native to the Namib desert in Africa.

Types

Three subspecies of sidewinder are currently recognized, according to Cara Ori of the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: the Mojave Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cerastes), the Sonoran Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cercobombus) and the Colorado Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes laterorepens). There are few readily apparent physical differences between these subspecies, though they can be distinguished by their geographic distribution and their size, as well as by subtle differences in coloration.

Identification

The behavior and appearance of the sidewinder make them fairly easy to distinguish from other desert rattlesnakes. Sidewinders are small, normally measuring less than 30 inches from head to tail. They range in color from pale tan or light gray, to yellow or pinkish. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the sidewinder rattlesnake is the protruding scales above the snake's eyes. These "horns" are not found in any other North American rattlesnake. The sidewinder's characteristic vertical slither, from which it derives its name, can also be used to distinguish this species.

Habitat

The sidewinder inhabits the sandy deserts of its geographic range, as well as flats, rocky outcroppings and dry creek beds. The preferred habitats of the sidewinder are small hills topped with vegetation and sandy, open terrain. The coloration of the sidewinder allows this species to blend into many desert environments, according to Gary Nafis of the California Herps website.

Diet

Sidewinders tend to be opportunistic eaters, using their heat-sensitive pits (located near the snake's eyes) to help them locate prey. Young sidewinders typically eat small lizards, while larger sidewinders can consumer larger rodents, like the kangaroo rat. The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology reports that they may also occasionally eat small birds and other snakes.

Behavior

Sidewinders are solitary and generally nocturnal, especially during warmer months of the year. In periods of intense heat or cold, sidewinders will burrow under the surface of the ground to hibernate. When hunting, sidewinders will normally bury themselves beneath the sand and lie in wait for their prey, striking and injecting it with venom as it approaches. Sidewinders may also use their speed to follow prey after envenomation. Sidewinders typically mate in the spring, and give birth to live young.

References

• Venomous Reptiles: The Sidewinder
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Crotalus Cerastes
• San Diego Natural History Museum Field Guide: Crotalus Cerastes
• California Herps: Mohave Desert Sidewinder