why are snakes called side winders?

Answer 1

All snakes are not sidewinders. A Sidewinder is a variety of rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes) and named Sidewinder for the way it crawls over desert sand.
Photos of a Sidewinder rattlesnake:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0geu8JISvZFcDQBnHZXNyoA?search=crotalus+cerastes&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAgT.BTjWOIk8.qYfiGdFPDgazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F%2A-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjY1APmuJoy_apILjVcz_goazKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F%2A%2Ahttp%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=crotalus%20cerastes&fr2=tab-web

Crawling:

http://www.suziophoto.com/photos/1859-23.jpg

Sidewinder tracks:

http://www.suziophoto.com/photos/r-sw1859-53th.jpg

Answer 2

The side winder is a type of snake that lives basically in the desert, it gets the name from making winding movements in the hot desert sun to try to get away from the heated sand, and can they move, you try stepping on desert sands in the blazing sun, but it is a name not because of the type of snake but because of the movements it makes
Perhaps the most specialized of all the rattlesnakes is the sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes). This unique species is both structurally and behaviorally adapted to life in the desert. The physical hallmark of the species is the upturned, horn-like scales over the eyes. For many years, scientists speculated over the function of these structures, but it was not until the late 1960's that a remarkable discovery was made. The "horn" is capable of folding down over the eye when pressure from above is applied, thus forming an 11 eyelid" which may serve to protect the eye when the snake is moving through subterranean burrows.
The name "sidewinder" is derived from the incredibly efficient method of locomotion which the snake employs. Essentially "walking" on its chin and a loop of its body, the snake is able to keep much of its body elevated off the ground while moving, thus reducing body contact with the warm or hot surface upon which it is crawling. This has the obvious benefit of reducing heat absorption from the ground, while at the same time allowing rapid movement over a loose, shifting substrate.
The functional "horns" and the sidewinding locomotion are also seen in some species of true vipers living in the Sahara and Namib Deserts of Africa and are examples of convergent evolution, that process whereby two species of different phylogenetic lineage develop similar adaptations to similar environmental stimuli. The sidewinder is most often found in open brushy or sandy desert, and reaches its eastern limits in the vicinity of Tucson.

Sonoran sidewinder - Crotalus cerastes cercobombus. The sidewinder is extraordinarily adapted to life in the desert. The specialized "horns" can fold down over the eyes like eyelids when the snake enters burrows. The temperature-sensitive pits are located between the eyes and the nostrils, and are characteristic of all the pit vipers.
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Answer 3

Not all snakes are called side winders. A Side Winder is a certain breed of snake that lives in the desert.

Answer 4

not all snakes are called side winders. There is a type of snake called a side winder, though. This snake is a type of desert rattle snake. when on the move or feeling threatened it doesnt move in the tradition forward s pattern most snakes move in it moves it moves to a side ways S pattern. but dont get me wrong, it still can slither forwards. but that is its main movement.

Answer 5

The word snake and the phrase side winder are not interchangeable. All side winders are snakes, but not all snakes are side winders. What? You say! Some snakes wriggle and move forward. Others wriggle to move in a more side way action. They are the side winders! So the difference is basically in which way they are headed while they are a' wigglin! Good Question! Gerald

Answer 6

like someone said, not all snakes are called side winders, just the particular kind of rattle snake. theyre calle that because rather than moving in an S formation forward, they move just as fast sideways. They move sideways because where they live, (desert) the sand gets very hot and when moving sideways they only have to touch two parts of there skin to the sand at all times.

Answer 7

side winders or sand vipers are related to the most dangerous family (vipridea). commonly called vipers.side winder is given this name because they slither to sides. and move mostly sideways rather than mostly foreward.
they hide their bodies in the sand with only eye out for prey. they r the deadliest vipers of all because they exist far away from human settlements where no medication is provided immediatly.

Answer 8

stumble on a rocky section and whilst its approximately midday, after the sunlight has been out for a together as and the snakes warmth up and are energetic, go searching timber and rocks, the rattle snakes are actually not stressful given which you will hear them yet i don't have adventure with factor winders. whilst catching rattle snakes its best to apply a stick or snake sticks, specific ones with metallic ends, p.c.. it up with the long merchandise and have a pal carry a bag open, often a pillow case, yet to stay away from the prospect of your buddy getting bitten attempt to pin the snakes head down consisting of your stick, with out using too lots tension, and then seize it consisting of your hand and placed it interior the bag. Is it criminal to seize rattle snakes in AZ?

Answer 9

Only some snakes are. It has to do with the motion they use to get around. Sidewinders move in a more "sideways" manner than others. See the diagram about halfway down the page on this link:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/snake.htm/printable

There's a video link, too!

Answer 10

It is the way caenophidian or, newest venom snakes, move. These includes horned adders in Africa , SW American rattle-snakes and vipers in Asia. Any snake that has lost it's vestigial pelvis can sidewind on smooth or loose surfaces like glass, sand, tidal flats and mud. It really is amazing to watch. They can move at amazing speeds on lose terrain. I dont know of any python or boa that can move as fast.
For all of us calculus and trig geeks out there you can derive the path, speed and size of the snake if you know the elevation of terrain it is traveling on. Caenophidias sidewind a by lifting their whole body except for the two points that are at an equal slope in their desired direction of travel, you can use a basic Sine function to do the rest.
You'll notice they trail they leave behind them will look like J's but the stem of the "J" will always be a perpedicular to their direction of travel................I have to much time on my hands :)

Answer 11

The side winder is a particular type of Rattlesnake and is called that because of its peculier movement which is to the side rather then mostly forward.