MOJAVE DESERT SIDEWINDER
RELATED LINKS:
WILDLIFE
- Red Racer
- Gopher Snake
- Glossy Snake
- Common Kingsnake
- Mojave Rattlesnake
- Speckled Rattlesnake
- Panamint Rattlesnake
- Desert Sindwinder
- Diamondback Rattlesnake
- Great Basin Rattlesnake
- Gila Monster
- Chuckwalla
- Leopard Lizard
- Collard Lizard
- Spiny Lizard
- Desert Iguana
- Desert Whiptail
ANIMAL MOTION AND BODY COVERINGS
Mojave Desert Sidewinder
Also called the “Horned Rattlesnake” because of the small, horn-like scales above its eyes, the sidewinder is Nevada’s smallest rattlesnake. It rarely exceeds two feet in length. This is a snake of valley floors and nearby slopes where sandy or other loose soils occur. The snake’s ability to sidewind (move sideways) helps it to move across loose ground without slipping. Though sidewinders are mostly active at night they are frequently found coiled and partially buried during morning hours, before the day gets hot and forces them to seek better shelter. Sidewinder venom is moderately strong but because the snake is small it produces only small amounts. This is probably the least dangerous of Nevada’s six rattlesnakes.
