Sidewinder

Also called the horn viper, horned rattlesnake, or sidewinder rattlesnake, sidewinders are relatively small rattlesnakes at 18 to 32 inches long. These pit vipers live in desert habitats and are named for their unique sidewinding movement. The snakes have powerful venom and eat rodents, birds, and lizards.

3 Amazing Sidewinder Facts!

• The hornlike structures on this snake’s head are why it’s sometimes called a horned rattlesnake.
• It gives live birth to its young in a burrow.
• It sometimes uses its tail as a lure to attract prey such as lizards and birds.

Scientific Name

The scientific name of the sidewinder rattlesnake is Crotalus cerastes, with its Latin name cerastes translating to the word “horn.” It’s in the Viperidae family and Reptilia class.

3 Types of Sidewinders

The sidewinder has three subspecies that are very similar in appearance. The main factor that differentiates the subspecies is location.

The three subspecies are:

• Mojave Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cerastes): This subspecies can be found in the desert areas from Los Angeles’s northeast and San Bernardino in California, as well as other parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, in desert lowlands.
• Sonoran Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes cercobombus): This snake makes its home in Sonora, Mexico, and southern Arizona. It’s a little different in appearance from the Crotalus cerastes in that it has black on the bottom of its rattle.
• Colorado Desert Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes laterorepens): The range of this pit viper extends from the southeastern part of Mexico into California. It also lives in the Colorado River valley.

Evolution and Origins

The sidewinder has evolved by adapting in many ways to its environment. One adaptation helping sidewinders survive in their desert habitat is rough scales. These scales allow them to move in an S-motion across the hot sand without burning themselves. In fact, they can travel at a speed of up to 18 mph!

Another adaptation is the neutral colors of this snake allow it to blend into its desert habitat. This makes it easier for the snake to capture prey.

A particularly interesting adaptation of a sidewinder relates to its eyes. The hornlike structure above each eye serves to protect its eyes from the sunlight and blowing sand. These horns are unique and aren’t found on other rattlesnakes such as the western diamondback rattlesnake in Texas.

The sidewinding movement of this snake is not just entertaining to watch. It also serves a purpose. As the sands of the desert blow, they shift around. This shifting ground would be difficult for a snake to navigate with a traditional slithering motion like that of the timber rattlesnake in Texas. But this rattlesnake moves along in a sideways motion helping it to travel efficiently in its ever-changing habitat. Plus, only a small part of its body hits the ground as it propels itself which further protects its body from the hot sand.

Appearance

When you think about a sidewinder you may envision a very large snake moving sideways through the desert sand. But this snake is surprisingly small at 18 to 32 inches long.

It has a triangular-shaped, flat head, and hornlike structure above each of its eyes.

This snake is a pit viper, so it has a pit or hole on each side of its snout. The sidewinder uses these pits to detect the location of its prey. These pits are sensitive to the infrared radiation given off by rodents, birds, and other animals.

The scales of a sidewinder have a rough, sturdy texture. This is an adaptation helping the snake to move through the hot sand of its desert habitat. The scales of this snake are light in color from tan to pale gray. It has a pattern of darker brown or gray spots on its back. There is a dark stripe near each eye of this pit viper. Its neutral coloration is another adaptation that helps it survive in the desert. They blend into their habitat very easily!

It has a line of segmented rattles on its tail. Like other types of rattlesnakes, the sidewinder shakes its rattled tail as a warning to threats to move away. One of the most interesting facts about this snake’s rattles is they are hollow. It’s the segments of the rattle hitting one another that creates the warning sound.

How to identify a sidewinder:

• Tan or light gray base color
• Dark brown or gray splotches on its back
• Hornlike structure above each eye
• A triangular, flat head
• A dark brown or black stripe next to each eye.

Behavior

This snake is active during the day throughout the cooler weather months. Alternatively, it’s nocturnal during the warm weather season. Depending on their home region, some sidewinders go into brumation for the cold weather season.

Sidewinders are shy snakes. So, if it bites it usually happens accidentally. Someone may step on the snake without seeing it or reach into an area where the snake cannot escape. The snake bites because it’s frightened.

Venom: How Dangerous Are Sidewinders?

Sidewinders can deliver venom through their bite. But they are shy snakes and are more likely to give a warning by rattling their tail or trying to escape with great speed.

If you’re bitten by a sidewinder, the first thing to do is call an ambulance. This snake’s venom causes serious symptoms if the bite is not treated.

While waiting for emergency medical services, move to a shaded area and stay as still as possible. If you have jewelry or a watch on the wounded limb, take it off in case there’s extreme swelling. Wash the wound gently with soap and water without dipping it under water. Put a bandage over the injury.

If possible, take note of the time of the bite so you can tell medical professionals how long the venom has been in your system.

Habitat

Sidewinders are North American snakes living in the United States and Mexico. They live in a desert habitat in the southeastern part of California, southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, and the western portion of Arizona. In addition, they are found in western Sonora and Baja California in Mexico.

Diet

Sidewinder rattlesnakes eat rodents, birds, and lizards. Their diet includes banded geckos, whiptail lizards, fringe-toed lizards, kangaroo rats, gophers, and more.

These snakes are known as ambush hunters. This means the snake buries itself in the sand and waits for a bird, lizard, or rodent to enter the area. When it does, the snake appears and gives its prey a bite to inject its venom. The prey may move away, but it slows down as the venom takes effect. Once the prey is dead, the pit viper swallows it.

As a note, these pit vipers are able to find areas with rodents, birds, and lizards. The pits located in its snout can detect infrared radiation given off by prey.

Predators and Threats

Sidewinders are at risk of predation from birds (hawks, crows, and shrikes), snakes like the California kingsnake, and mammals including coyotes and raccoons. Young snakes are more at risk from predators.

These snakes can also contract diseases and be killed by vehicles. Females regularly die of exhaustion once they give birth.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

The mating season of this pit viper starts in April and extends into July. This is when these snakes are especially active. One of the most intriguing facts about this reptile is male sidewinders sometimes travel for hours to find a female.

These snakes become mature at 2-3 years old and can reproduce each year, with females able to mate with different males in one breeding season. The female gives birth to 5-18 live young measuring 6-8 inches long at a time. As can be typical of pit vipers, female sidewinders stay with their newborn snakelets for 7–10 days to protect them from predation. Once the juveniles shed their skins, they independently venture out into the world.

Female sidewinders live around 5 years on average in the wild. Males have a longer lifespan that can reach 13 years. In captivity, these snakes are able to live more than 20 years.

Population and Conservation Status

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species states this rattlesnake has a stable population of more than 100,000 adults. It’s reported as Least Concern.

Similar Animals

• Mojave rattlesnake
• Western diamondback rattlesnake
• Southern Pacific rattlesnake

1. Buffalo Zoo, Available here: https://buffalozoo.org/animal/mojave-desert-sidewinder/
2. EOL, Available here: https://eol.org/pages/815843
3. WSED, Available here: https://wsed.org/viperid-spotlight-all-about-sidewinders-crotalus-cerastes/
4. Reptile Database, Available here: http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Crotalus&species=cerastes&search_param=%28%28search%3D%27sidewinder%27%29%29
5. IUCN Red List, Available here: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/64315/12764960
6. Active Wild, Available here: https://www.activewild.com/sidewinder/
7. Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_cerastes