Another typical looking sidewinder, with a good look at those ‘horn’ supraocular scales over each eye that helps keep it safe for a sandy lifestyle.
Crotalus cerastes cercobombus
Tags: arizona, cerastes, cercobombus, Crotalus, rattlesnake, sidewinder
And there it is: my favorite snake in all the world, outside of the Corn Snake. Why? Because it is a unique combination of snake characteristics. First, it is a snake. Second, it is venomous, therefore a snake to be reckoned with. Third, it is a rattlesnake, therefore in possession of that wonder we call the rattle, and fourth, it has that unique method of movement called “sidewinding”. While there are other sidewinding snakes in Arabia and Africa, they are not rattlesnakes. While there are other rattlesnakes, they do not sidewind. Only Crotalus cerastes has all of these traits combined in one animal, so it is my favorite wild snake.
The Corn Snake (now called Pantherophis guttata) is my favorite snake as it is both beautiful, and the most adaptable to captivity. My Snow Corn Snake is my favorite snake of all right now. (I had to let the two Shovel-nosed snakes go, as I wasn’t sure they were eating. Got pics, though. Soon as I figure how to send them, I will.)