How does a sidewinder move?

Like most snakes, the sidewinder moves across a surface by bending its body into a curvy S-shape and passing those curves down its body. But instead of sliding straight ahead along the ground, the sidewinder sets only parts of its body on the loose sand while the rest of its body lifts up and moves sideways.

1. How does a rattlesnake move?
2. What snakes move like a sidewinder?
3. What does the sidewinder do?
4. Do rattlesnakes chase you?
5. Why does the sidewinder snake move sideways?
6. Is the sidewinder the fastest snake in the world?
7. How do sidewinder snakes survive in the desert?
8. Do sidewinder snakes have rattles?
9. Are sidewinders aggressive?
10. Do sidewinders live in burrows?
11. Do sidewinders bury themselves?
12. What do sidewinder eat in the desert?

How does a rattlesnake move?

Rectilinear Locomotion. Rectilinear locomotion is the primary method of travel for most rattlesnakes. While traveling in this manner, the rattlesnake will usually lie in a straight line and inch forward by using its ribs much like a caterpillar or millipede would use its legs.

What snakes move like a sidewinder?

It is most often used by the Saharan horned viper, Cerastes cerastes, the Mojave sidewinder rattlesnake, Crotalus cerastes, and the Namib desert sidewinding adder, Bitis peringueyi, to move across loose desert sands, and also by Homalopsine snakes in Southeast Asia to move across tidal mud flats.

What does the sidewinder do?

The sidewinding gait aids with movement across shifting sands, as well as other surfaces, including hardpan desert soil and roadways. Physical Features and Characteristics: Because of their unique form of locomotion, sidewinders are the fastest-moving of all rattlesnakes.

Do rattlesnakes chase you?

While dangerous, rattlesnakes (and most snakes in general) are not aggressive and won't chase you. They only strike when they're threatened or accidentally touched by someone who can't see them while walking or climbing.

Why does the sidewinder snake move sideways?

But instead of sliding straight ahead along the ground, the sidewinder sets only parts of its body on the loose sand while the rest of its body lifts up and moves sideways. ... This appears to help the snake get a firm hold on the sand and travel quickly while limiting total contact time with the hot and unstable sand.

Is the sidewinder the fastest snake in the world?

29 km /18 m per hour. What is the fastest snake in the world? #1 hand down is the sidewinder. The sidewinder is a venomous pit viper snake that lives in the sandy deserts of the Southwestern USA and Northwestern Mexico, and makes this list of speediest snakes by moving in a unique way.

How do sidewinder snakes survive in the desert?

As a protection against the blowing sand, the sidewinder snake has a protective scale above each of its eyes. ... The snakes is able to fold the scales down over its eyes when it burrows into the sand, thus providing an additional measure of protection from the sandy environment that sidewinder snake inhabits.

Do sidewinder snakes have rattles?

Sidewinders are distinguished among rattlesnakes by their horn-like superocular scales on their heads. This hornlike structure is why sidewinders are also called horned rattlesnakes. They also have a rattle on their tails; the number of segments of the rattle equates to the number of sheds the individual has completed.

Are sidewinders aggressive?

The sidewinder rattlesnake is indigenous to desert regions across southeastern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, western Arizona and northwestern Mexico. ... Sidewinder rattlesnakes are venomous, but of little threat to humans, except for young children.

Do sidewinders live in burrows?

Sidewinders are terrestrial snakes and rarely climb into vegetation. ... In order to stay cool, sidewinders spend most of their time in rodent burrows, the rest time is spend lying coiled up partially buried in the sand waiting on prey. These snakes take their common name from an unusual form of locomotion.

Do sidewinders bury themselves?

The sidewinder is an ambush hunter and will often bury itself in the sand to wait for unsuspecting prey, with only the watchful head remaining above ground. Sidewinders inhabit the deserts of the southwestern United States. They prefer sandy washes or dunes with mesquite or creosote bushes.

What do sidewinder eat in the desert?

Behavior. The sidewinder travels quickly over desert surfaces using its unique "side winding" locomotion to prey on pocket mice, kangaroo rats, lizards and sometimes birds. Young sidewinders prefer lizards while older ones prefer rodents.