Sidewinder Snake Navigates Loose Sand With Special Scales

The sidewinder rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes), is a small- to medium-sized snake, usually growing to about 18 to 30 inches (46 to 76 cm) in length.

Its color matches its environment, with shades of beige, light brown or gray that blend perfectly with the sandy terrain. The snake's body is covered in keeled scales, which help it gain traction on loose sand, making it a true desert dweller.

One of the most unique features of the sidewinder is its eyes. The snake's eyes sit atop raised ridges on its head, giving it a horned appearance. These "horns" help protect its eyes from sand as it moves across the desert floor.

Another thing that sets the sidewinder apart from other rattlesnakes is its unique sidewinding locomotion. The sidewinder rattlesnakes moves along the desert environment cutting S curves through the sand to chase down prey at speeds nearing 20 miles per hour (32 km/h).

Scientists have theorized that the sidewinder moves this way in order to create less friction and gain speed along its smooth belly.

As a venomous snake, sidewinder bites can be potentially dangerous to humans. Research suggests that sidewinder rattlesnake venom is not as potent as that of most other rattlesnakes that can be found in North America.

However, you should always use caution around these snakes and seek immediate medical attention in the event of a snake bite.

Two major sidewinder groups seemed to evolve separately on Earth, with one group occupying the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East, while the other became suited to life in the hottest regions of North America.

Eastern varieties of sidewinder are more distantly related to pit vipers and rattlesnakes; they're frequently referred to as desert adders or sidewinding adders.

Crotalus cerastes (known as the sidewinder rattlesnake or Mojave sidewinder) is the most common. It inhabits the deserts of the southwestern United States, especially the Mojave Desert stretching from Arizona into northern Mexico.

While they share similar traits, like their unique locomotion and venomous bite, the specific adaptations of each subspecies vary slightly depending on the desert they call home. These adaptations help them survive in different microhabitats like sandy washes and sandy slopes.

Unlike most snakes, the sidewinder is primarily nocturnal. It prefers to stay hidden during the scorching desert days, only emerging at night when temperatures drop.

During the day, sidewinders bury themselves in the loose sand, with just their eyes peeking out. This not only helps them stay cool but also makes them harder to spot.

Sidewinders are solitary creatures, only coming together during the mating season. Otherwise, they spend their time alone, hunting for food and avoiding other predators.

Sidewinders are carnivores, and their diet mainly consists of small mammals like desert rodents and kangaroo rats.

They're ambush predators, lying in wait for their prey to pass by. With their excellent camouflage, sidewinders blend seamlessly into the sandy terrain, striking with lightning speed when a meal gets too close.

Like many other snakes, sidewinders use their venom to immobilize prey. Their venom is powerful enough to quickly subdue small mammals and desert reptiles. Once their prey is incapacitated, the snake swallows it whole.

These snakes are well-adapted to the desert's food supply, making them highly efficient predators.

The sidewinder rattlesnake thrives in some of the hottest and driest places on Earth. It's commonly found in the deserts of the southwestern United States, especially in areas like the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert of northwestern Mexico. They prefer habitats with loose sand and open areas where they can move easily and hunt effectively.

Because sidewinders rely on their sidewinding motion to move efficiently, they are most often found in open deserts with soft, shifting sands. This snake's specialized movement helps it avoid sinking into the sand as it travels, allowing it to cross vast areas of desert quickly.

Sidewinders are ovoviviparous, which means they give birth to live young, rather than laying eggs like many other reptiles. After mating in the spring or early summer, females will carry the eggs inside their bodies until they hatch (also inside their bodies) a few months later. The young are born fully formed and ready to fend for themselves.

Newborn sidewinders are independent from the moment they’re born and immediately begin hunting small prey. Although they're tiny, they pack a powerful venom that helps them survive from a young age.

Sidewinders grow quickly, reaching sexual maturity within a few years, and continue the cycle of life in the desert.

While sidewinders are not currently listed as endangered, their populations can be affected by habitat destruction and human encroachment into desert areas.

In some regions, urbanization has led to the loss of their natural habitats, but these snakes are fairly resilient due to their adaptability to harsh desert conditions.

Some sidewinders (like those at Zoo Atlanta) are kept in captivity for educational purposes, helping people understand more about the role these snakes play in their ecosystems. These snakes are an important part of desert ecosystems, controlling populations of small rodents like kangaroo rats and helping maintain the balance of their habitat.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was edited and fact-checked by a HowStuffWorks editor.