Question 1:   Side-winding in Snakes

Question 2: Identifying Baby Snakes

 Questions Courtesy of MJW, Fort Worth, Texas

Answered by Jerry Cates

MJW Wrote:

"Mr. Cates---Do all snakes slither the same or is there a difference between the way a venomous snake slithers versus the way a non-venomous snake does?  Sometimes when working in my yard I dig up baby snakes that slither like a side winder.  My husband assures me that they are just grass snakes even though he hasn't seen them; but, growing up in south Texas around rattlesnakes and such it scares me to see that little side-wind.  I live in the Ft. Worth area of North Richland Hills and know that there are poisonous snakes around here but do not want to bother the snakes if they are useful ones.  Is there a good way to identify them, especially if they are babies?     Hope to hear from you.     MJW"

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My Reply: 

Hi, MJW---Your question is one I get four or five times a year. In every case where I am able to identify the snake that slithered sideways (by a photo or a particularly good verbal description), it turned out to be non-poisonous. 

It is true that a specific rattlesnake, with the common name of sidewinder rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes), always moves by side-winding.  In fact, even when other methods would be superior, this species side-winds its way wherever it goes and a freshly hatched snake of this species that has not witnessed another snake move will instinctively, and perfectly, execute the side-winding method of movement. 

Despite the fact that at least one species of venomous snake always side-winds, almost every species of snake, including the non-poisonous ones, will side-wind when conditions are right. This is true because side-winding is a superior method of movement for any snake that has to traverse loose or smooth surfaces where usual methods are relatively ineffectual, and practically any snake will side-wind under such circumstances.

You also asked if there is a good way to identify snakes, especially if they are babies.  The answer to that is Yes, baby snakes can be identified to species, most of the time.  However, it is more difficult to identify juvenile (i.e., baby) specimens than when the snake is fully developed.  In many species the markings of the juvenile are nearly identical to those of the adult, but in others the juvenile hardly resembles the adult at all.  Fortunately, this is somewhat less true for the venomous species than for the non-poisonous ones.

Identifying juvenile rattlesnakes is relatively easy, due to the fact that they have a hard button at the tip of the tail, where the rattle will eventually develop.  Dangerous copperhead and western cottonmouth hatchlings have sulfur-yellow tails when the first emerge, and this feature easily distinguishes them from other, non-poisonous species; by the time the yellow tails darken, the copperhead or western cottonmouth has taken on most, if not all, of the adult markings of the species. Juvenile Texas coral snakes have the same markings as the adult---just remember that the Texas coral snake can also be found in amelanestic (albino, or nearly so, with white, cream-colored, or pale yellowish bodies) and melanistic (entirely black) forms, too, and that such genetic anomalies are present in juvenile as well as adult specimens.

Besides these general comments, the best way to learn how to identify snakes is to study the various species that are found in Texas.  One good way to do that is to peruse the pages found on this website, www.bugsinthenws.com, and on other websites that cover similar material.

I hope this helps---Jerry