The Crotalus cerastes, commonly known as the sidewinder rattlesnake, is a species of rattlesnake found primarily in the sandy deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. This snake is well-adapted to its environment, featuring a unique sideways movement that allows it to traverse loose sand efficiently. It has a distinctive coloration, often a light tan or gray, which helps it blend into its desert surroundings. The sidewinder is known for its specialized heat-sensing pits located between its eyes and nostrils, enabling it to detect warm-blooded prey. Its diet mainly consists of small mammals, lizards, and birds. Like other rattlesnakes, it possesses a rattle at the end of its tail, which it uses as a warning signal to potential threats.