THE AMAZING SIDEWINDER! (With Commentary) The Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) is a species of venomous pit viper from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. With its characteristic horns over the eyes and the sidewinding locomotion for which it was named, it is perhaps the most distinctive rattlesnake in the Arizona. Sidewinders are a fairly small rattle snake (824mm total length) but have relatively long fangs (5 - 8.1 mm). Compared to other rattlesnakes, the venom is moderately