The Sidewinder snake, also known as the horned rattlesnake is a venomous pit viper found in deserts of North America.
It’s known for its unique method of locomotion, moving sideways in a distinctive “sidewinding” motion. This adaptation helps it navigate hot sandy terrain efficiently.
The snake is characterized by a set of small horns above its eyes and a heat-sensing pit on each side of its head, which aids in detecting prey.
Sidewinder Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The family that the Sidewinder belongs to is called Viperidae or simply the Viper family of snakes.
This is one of the most popular families of venomous snakes in the world along with the Elapid family.
Vipers are found throughout most of the world but an interesting fact about vipers is that they are not native to Australia. The majority of venomous snakes in Australia are from the Elapid family.
Even though Australia has ‘Adders’, such sa the Common Death Adder, these ‘Adders’ are not related to the ‘Viper’ Adders of Africa and actually belong to the Elapid Family.
Genus
The genus that the Sidewinder belongs to is called Crotalus. This genus contains all the different species of Rattlesnake.
All the snakes in the Crotalus genus are venomous Pit Vipers that are only found in the Americas, ranging from Southern Canada to Northern Argentina.
The name Crotalus comes from a Greek word that translates to Rattle, referring to the distinctive rattle on the end of these snake’s tail.
There are currently around 50 different recognised species of Rattlesnakes. The exact number is constantly changing as sub-species are getting reclassified to full species level and vice versa.
Some of the more common species of Rattlesnake include the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake, Pygmy Rattlesnake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake and the Massasauga Rattlesnake.
Species
The scientific name for the Sidewinder is Crotalus cerastes and there are currently three recognised sub-species.
These sub-species are the Mojave Desert Sidewinder, the Sonoran Desert Sidewinder and the Colorado Desert Sidewinder.
This species was first described in 1854 by an American herpetologist named Edward Hallowell.
Sidewinder Description
The Sidewinder is a relatively small species compared to other rattlesnakes, typically ranging from 1 to 2 feet in length, although some individuals can grow slightly larger.
Their coloration can vary but they usually have a light brown or sandy coloration that blends in with their desert surroundings. This helps camouflage them from both predators and prey.
One of the most recognizable features of the Sidewinder is the presence of raised, horn-like scales above each eye. These scales give the snake a distinctive appearance and contribute to its unique camouflage.
Like all pit vipers, the Sidewinder has specialized organs called heat-sensing pits located between their eyes and nostrils.
These pits allow them to detect the infrared radiation emitted by warm-blooded prey, helping them locate food in the dark or under the sand.
They have a rattle at the end of their tail that is composed of segments of keratin and is used as a warning signal to potential predators or threats.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Sidewinder is native to the desert regions of the South-Western United States and parts of Northern Mexico.
In the South-Western United States, the Sidewinder can be found in various desert habitats in States such as California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico.
They like to live in areas such as deserts, sand dunes, rocky outcrops, and scrublands.
Their range extends into Northern Mexico where they can be found in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. Here, they occupy similar desert environments to those found in the United States.
The Sidewinder has adapted to thrive in sandy and arid landscapes, where they use their unique sidewinding locomotion to traverse the shifting sands and hunt for prey.
They are well-suited to the extreme temperatures and sparse vegetation typical of desert ecosystems.
They can also be found in some adjacent semi-arid regions, provided there is suitable sandy terrain and prey availability.
Sidewinder Behaviour
The Sidewinder gets its name from its unique method of locomotion, where it moves sideways in a series of S-shaped curves, allowing it to navigate sandy terrain efficiently.
They are primarily nocturnal, meaning they are mostly active during the night. This allows them avoid the extreme heat of the desert sun during the day.
Like all other reptiles, they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature.
They will bask in the sun during cooler periods of the day to warm up and then become more active at night when temperatures are more favorable.
The Sidewinder is an ambush predator, meaning they typically sit and wait for unexpected prey to pass by.
They will use their excellent camouflage to blend into their surroundings, then strike quickly when prey comes within reach.
Their primary sources of food include small mammals such as rodents and lizards.
They use their heat-sensing pits to detect the body heat of their prey, then strike with their venomous fangs to immobilize and consume them.
Venom
The Sidewinder has a hemotoxic venom, meaning it primarily affects the blood and tissues of their prey.
It contains a mixture of enzymes, peptides, and proteins that work together to disrupt normal physiological functions.
The results of envenomation include tissue damage, paralysis and eventually death in the prey.
While the potency of venom can vary among individuals and populations, it is generally considered less toxic compared to some other rattlesnake species.
However, this does not diminish its effectiveness in subduing small mammals and lizards, which are the primary prey of Sidewinders.