Head to head
Aruba Island Rattlesnake vs Sidewinder
Aruba Island Rattlesnake
VS Sidewinder
The Aruba Island rattlesnake and sidewinder are two small, pale rattlesnakes of dry, sandy country that ambush rodents and lizards.
| Aruba Island Rattlesnake | Sidewinder | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Crotalus unicolor | Crotalus cerastes |
| Colour and look | Pale, sandy-coloured, with faint, darker blotches that blend with the dry soil and rock | Sandy grey, cream, or pink to match local soil, with a raised, pointed scale over each eye, and 43 to 82 cm long |
| Diet | Small rodents, lizards, and birds, which it ambushes and strikes | Mostly desert rodents and lizards, with the occasional small bird, ambushed from a shallow sand pit |
| Distinctive feature | Found nowhere else in the wild, with a wild population of a few hundred, and gives birth to live young | Sidewinds by laying loops of its body down ahead at an angle, with only two short segments touching hot sand at once |
| Habitat | Dry, rocky scrub in the east of Aruba, mainly in Arikok National Park | Sand dunes, flats, and washes of the Mojave, Sonoran, and Colorado deserts |
| Range | Only the Caribbean island of Aruba | Southeastern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, Arizona, and adjacent Baja California and Sonora |
| Threats | Habitat loss to development, grazing by feral goats, and persecution by people afraid of venomous snakes | Widespread and common across its desert range |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered, and decreasing | Least Concern |
Aruba Island Rattlesnake vs Sidewinder: common questions
Where does the Aruba Island rattlesnake live?
Only on Aruba, in the dry, rocky scrub of the east of the island, mainly in Arikok National Park.
Why is the sidewinder called that?
It moves sideways across sand by laying loops of its body down ahead at an angle, leaving separate J-shaped marks.
Are both venomous?
Yes, both rattlesnakes are venomous and ambush their prey, though both are shy and any bite needs urgent medical attention.