Metazoa info

[Duke Guilmon]

Sidewinder



Crotalus Cerastes

Size:43-80cm, females are larger than males

Weight: They can weigh up to 200g

Life expectancy: 13 years max males, 5 years max females. 

When it first appeared: No data

Location: This snake can be found in southwestern deserts of the U.S, and northwestern Mexico. This snake makes its habitat in the in desert, of course. 



Taxonomy:
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Eureptilia
Clade: Romeriida
Clade: Diapsida
Clade: Neodiapsida
Clade: Sauria
Infraclass: Lepidosauromorpha
Superorder: Lepidosauria
Order: Squamata
Clade: Toxicofera
Clade: Ophidia
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Crotalus
Species: Crotalus cerastes

Diet: Sidewinders will eat birds rodents, and lizards. Juveniles will eat bugs

Anatomy: The venom of this snake is weaker than that of other rattlesnakes. Despite this, the bite is still dangerous. It has an average of 33mg-80mg of venom. Bites can cause pain, swelling, hemmorhagic bleb formation, and echymosis.

Behavior: The sidewinder here is a nocturnal animal during the warmer months and diurnal during the cooler ones. This snake is well know for its movement. It moves by moving its throwing each end of its body over to traverse over the sand. It helps them avoid heat, climb up sandy slopes, and is great for moving around fast in general. Its movements are seen because of the winds blowing. They are also solitary animals. 

Reproduction: The mating ritual of this animal is not really well known. Sidewinders will mate from April to May. These snakes have a gestation period of 2-3 months. A female will on average, give birth to up to 10 offspring. The female will defend and protect her young, if she survives the process. Females in the species are commonly known for dying while giving birth. 

Relationship with other animals: The sidewinder is both prey and predator. Birds of prey, for example, will hunt and eat any sidewinder that is not careful. They also have a relationship with humans, as humans will kill sidewinders if they are not careful. 



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Other sources:

http://www.saczoo.org/document.doc?id=358

http://www.desertusa.com/reptiles/sidewinder.html

http://www.factzoo.com/reptiles/snakes/s...style.html