Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyViperidae (Vipers)
- GenusCrotalus (Rattlesnakes)
- SpeciesCrotalus cerastes (Sidewinder)
About the Sidewinder
Crotalus cerastes, also known commonly as the horned rattlesnake, the sidewinder, and the sidewinder rattlesnake, is a species of pit viper, a venomous snake in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is native to desert regions of the Southwestern United States and adjacent northwestern Mexico. Three subspecies are recognized as being valid.
A small species, adult specimens of Crotalus cerastes measure between 43 and 80 cm (17 and 31.5 in) in total length (tail included). The females are larger than the males, which is unique among United States rattlesnakes.
Usually, 21 rows of keeled dorsal scales occur midbody. Males have 141 or fewer ventral scales; females have 144 or fewer. It is sometimes referred to as the horned rattlesnake because of the raised supraocular scales above its eyes. This adaptation may help shade the eyes or prevent sand drifting over them as the snake lies almost buried in it. As only pressure on top of the horns will cause them to fold down, it is concluded that they strike against the roof of rodent burrows to protect the eyes.
The color pattern consists of a ground color that may be cream, buff, yellowish-brown, pink... Wikipedia →
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Joshua Tree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Zion National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Grand Canyon National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Sidewinder in Saguaro National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Sidewinder sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 17 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Sidewinder in Saguaro National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Sidewinder in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.