How Snakes Wind Through Sand

How Snakes Wind Through Sand

The banded sand snake (Chilomeniscus cinctus) is adapted to burrowing, and “swims” beneath the sand. The sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) uses a different method of locomotion—sidewinding—to move along the sand's surface. Both snakes are found in North American deserts.
EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica, Inc.
  • Adapted from C.R. Scotese, The University of Texas at Arlington
    Watch a time-lapse of Earth changing through geologic time, from the Cambrian Era to the projected period of Pangea Proxima.
    Media Editor: Miranda Chabot
  • NASA/Reuters
    Artemis II astronauts named a new crater after their commander's late wife.
  • EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica, Inc.
    Let's go on a planetary parade.
    Media Editor: Lauren Sims
  • EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica, Inc.
    The female pilot black snake (Elaphe obsoleta) lays a clutch of eggs in a warm protected place. After six to eight weeks of incubation, the young snake hatches from its egg able to care for itself.
  • EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica, Inc.
    The rattle of a rattlesnake.
  • EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica, Inc.
    We've misidentified these snakes for almost 200 years.
  • EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica, Inc.
    The pilot black snake (Elaphe obsoleta) uses its platelike scales to travel with an easy gliding motion.

News •

Snakes on the move and pets at risk as weather warms • Nov. 5, 2026, 3:36 PM ET (ABC News (Australia))
This snake cartwheels to escape danger • Oct. 19, 2026, 11:00 AM ET (Popular Science)

Last Modification: