General Distribution
The sidewinder is widely distributed and locally abundant in the Colorado and Mojave
deserts and north just into the southern Great Basin. It is found from sea level to 1800 m
(6000 ft) in a wide variety of desert habitats, including woodlands, shrub types, barren areas,
and dunes. It is most abundant in desert washes and flats with shrub cover and wind-blown
sand, especially at the bases of bushes where the snakes often wait, partially buried. This
snake is active from mid-spring to early fall, but activity may be restricted during the hottest
part of the summer (Cowles 1945, Klauber 1944, 1972, Lowe and Norris 1950, Stebbins
1954). Habitat Requirements
This snake has a set of behavioral and morphological specializations for living in
sand. It normally buries itself in a coil in fine sand at the base of a bush, if available, or in the
open. It may occasionally use mammal burrows or surface cover objects. Reproduction
Copulation occurs shortly after emergence in April and May and the young
are born in mid-summer. Litters average 11 young and range from 7-13 (Stebbins 1954,
Klauber 1972). Daily/Seasonal Activity
This snake is primarily nocturnal, but in the early spring it is active at
dusk and even occasionally during the day. It is active from early to mid-spring until late
summer or early fall. Populations of southerly or warmer areas become active earlier. It
sometimes ceases activity in mid-summer, when temperatures are highest (Stebbins 1954,
Klauber 1972). Not known to migrate. Diet and Foraging
This snake eats small mammals (Dipodomys, Perognathus, etc.), lizards
(Cnemidophorus, Uta, Uma, Phrynosoma, etc.) and occasionally birds (Stebbins 1954,
Klauber 1972). It is an active forager, but it also waits under bushes for prey, partially buried
in sand. Territoriality/Home Range
Males may be territorial but evidence is not clear (Lowe and Norris 1950). Predator-Prey Relations
This snake is eaten by kingsnakes and roadrunners, and probably by most avian
and mammalian desert predators. Literature Cited
Cowles, R. B. 1945. Some of the activities of the sidewinder. Copeia 1945:220-222.
Klauber L. M. 1944. The sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes, with description of a new
subspecies. Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 10:91-126.
Klauber, L. M. 1972. Rattlesnakes: their habits, life histories, and influence on mankind.
2nd ed. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1533pp.
Lowe, C. H., and K. S. Norris. 1950. Aggressive behavior in male sidewinders, Crotalus
cerastes, with a Discussion of aggressive behavior and territoriality in snakes. Chicago
Acad. Sci. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 66:1-13.
Stebbins, R. C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill,
New York. 536pp.
Information gathered from California DFG - California Interagency Wildlife Task Group
