Mohave Desert Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes cerastes
The Sidewinder is a small rattlesnake, usually not growing larger than 30 inches long. It is found in areas of windblown sand where its special "sidewinding" method of locomotion allows it to travel quickly over loose sand. Look for the unusual parallel tracks that it leaves in the sand in order to find them; they can also be found while night-driving in sandy areas. Sidewinders eat lizards and small rodents. The tracks and the snake on this page were photographed on the sand dunes near Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley. I have some photographs of a beautiful peach-colored Colorado Desert Sidewinder that I will post as soon as I can find them.
