SIDEWINDER

also called horned rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes) small, nocturnal snake of the family Viperidae, found in sandy deserts of Mexico and the southwestern United States. The sidewinder is about 45 to 75 cm (18 to 30 inches) long. It has hornlike scales above its eyes and is coloured pale tan, pinkish, or gray; it also has an inconspicuous spotted pattern on the back and sides. The sidewinder is noted for its unusual method of locomotion, looping itself obliquely across the sand, leaving a characteristic j-shaped trail. It is venomous, but the bite is usually not fatal to humans.