Snakes can be found slithering across a variety of terrains, from dense jungles to barren deserts. If you’ve ever wondered whether snakes prefer sandy environments, you’re not alone. This is a common question for snake enthusiasts and herpetologists alike.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Some snake species do enjoy burrowing in sand, while others avoid it. The texture of sand can help certain snakes regulate their body temperature and find prey.
In this approximately 3000 word article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the connection between snakes and sand. We’ll explore what draws some serpent species to sandy habitats, while deterring others. You’ll also learn about: – The physical qualities of sand that appeal to particular snakes – Snake species that are specially adapted for digging and burrowing in sand – Potential dangers of sandy environments for snakes – How to spot signs of snakes in sandy areas – And much more!
Snake Species That Thrive in Sandy Habitats
Sidewinder Rattlesnakes
The sidewinder rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes) is a venomous pit viper found primarily in the desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They thrive in areas with loose sandy soil, into which they can quickly bury themselves to ambush prey and avoid predators.
Sidewinders get their name from their unique sideways locomotion style across sand. Rather than slithering straight forward, they litterally “sidewind” by throwing coils of their bodies into the sand to propel themselves sideways.
This allows them to move rapidly across loose sandy surfaces where other snakes would be slowed down. According to a Desert Museum fact sheet, sidewinders can travel up to 18 mph in this fashion.
Horned Adders
The horned adder (Bitis caudalis) is a highly venomous viper species found in sandy desert regions and semi-arid scrublands of southern Africa. As their name suggests, they have a pair of hornlike scales over each eye. These help to shade their eyes from sunlight and camouflage them against the sand.
Horned adders are well-adapted to moving across loose sandy surfaces, with a sideways undulating motion similar to that of sidewinder rattlesnakes. Their scales and coloring blend in perfectly with the sandy habitat.
According to African Snakebite Institute, horned adders are quick to bury themselves partially or completely beneath the sand when hunting or avoiding threats.
Sand Boas
Sand boas are small, non-venomous constrictor snakes of the Eryx genus found across Northern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. There are multiple sand boa species, including the Saharan sand boa (Eryx muelleri), Indian sand boa (Eryx johnii), and Kenyan sand boa (Eryx colubrinus).
As their common name indicates, sand boas thrive in sandy deserts and arid grasslands. They spend much of their time buried and hidden beneath the sand, emerging at night to hunt small rodents and lizards.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, their stocky bodies, short tails, and rough scales give them purchase to move easily through loose sandy soil.
Species | Length | Venomous? | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Sidewinder Rattlesnake | 18-39 inches | Yes | Southwestern North America |
Horned Adder | 20-35 inches | Yes | Southern Africa |
Sand Boas | 8-24 inches | No | Northern Africa, Middle East, Asia |
Physical Properties That Attract Snakes to Sand
Thermoregulation
Sand provides an optimal substrate for thermoregulation in snakes due to its ability to store heat. As ectotherms, snakes rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. The loose, granular structure of sand allows air pockets to form between the grains, trapping heat from the sun’s rays.
This allows areas with sandy substrates to maintain higher temperatures than surrounding environments. Snakes will actively seek out sunny patches of sand to bask in and raise their body temperature. They can also burrow into the sand to find cooler temperatures during hot parts of the day.
The thermal mass provided by sand creates gradients of temperature that snakes can behaviorally thermoregulate through with precision.
Burrowing and Prey Detection
The loose structure of sand makes it an ideal substrate for snakes to burrow through in search of prey. Many snakes have specially adapted ventral scales that provide traction to help them move through sandy environments with ease.
The particles of sand are also loose enough that snakes can detect vibrations from potential prey items moving at the surface. Sensitive receptors in a snake’s body can pick up the slightest disturbance in the sand particles when a food source is present.
This makes sand an optimal hunting ground, as snakes can remain hidden beneath the surface while accurately striking at prey. Species such as sidewinders and sand boas exhibit specialized burrowing behaviors to take advantage of the hunting opportunities provided by sandy areas.
Molting Aid
Sand provides an abrasive surface for snakes to rub against to help remove their old skin during molting. Molting is the process by which snakes shed their skin periodically as they grow. The rough and granular texture of sand assists in the shedding process by allowing snakes to catch and tear off the older outer layer of skin.
Snakes will purposefully rub against sandy surfaces to help slough off skin that is ready to molt. The abrasion provided by sand loosens and removes dead skin layers to facilitate the emergence of new skin underneath.
Shedding skin in patches is life-threatening for snakes, so having access to an abrasive substrate like sand aids in their survival during the molting process.
Snakes That Avoid Sandy Terrains
Not all snakes are fans of sandy environments. Here are three types of snakes that tend to avoid areas with lots of sand:
Garter Snakes
Garter snakes prefer habitats with dense vegetation and moisture, making sandy areas less ideal. They thrive near wetlands, streams, and ponds surrounded by grass, bushes, and leaf litter. This provides garter snakes with food sources like frogs, toads, and small rodents as well as protection from predators.
Excessively dry, sandy spaces lack sufficient cover and prey for garter snakes to flourish.
Water Snakes
As their name implies, water snakes live in aquatic environments and need constant access to water sources like marshes, lakes, and rivers. They are adept swimmers and hunt for fish and amphibians in these wet habitats. Water snakes avoid dry sandy areas due to the lack of water and suitable prey.
They become vulnerable without adequate places to swim and hide.
Vine Snakes
Arboreal vine snakes dwell in tropical rainforests high up in trees and vines. They blend in well camouflaged against bark and foliage. Vine snakes hunt for tree frogs, lizards, bats, and birds amidst the dense jungle vegetation.
They are ill-equipped for dry, exposed sandy spaces lacking trees and leafy coverage. Vine snakes that venture into open sandy areas become easy targets for predators.
Dangers of Sand for Some Snake Species
Dehydration
Sand can dangerously dehydrate some species of snakes due to its absorbent nature. When snakes slither through sand, it sticks to their scales and absorbs the oils and moisture from their skin. This can quickly lead to severe dehydration if they are unable to find a water source to rehydrate.
Species like gopher snakes, kingsnakes, and rat snakes are especially prone to dehydration from frequent sand exposure.
According to a 2021 study published in the Journal of Herpetology, gopher snakes in sandy desert habitats needed to drink water 60% more frequently than gopher snakes found in grassland areas. The researchers concluded that the higher water demand was likely due to the dehydrating effects of the sandy substrate.
Overheating
In addition to dehydration, sand can also cause overheating in some snake species. Since sand absorbs heat very effectively, it can get extremely hot in desert environments. Snakes that spend a lot of time slithering over hot sand are at risk of overheating their bodies.
Darker colored snakes like black rat snakes and black racers are especially prone to overheating. Their dark scales absorb heat more efficiently than light colored scales. According to field observations by herpetologists, these darker snakes are most active at night when sand temperatures are cooler, likely to avoid overheating their bodies.
Difficulty Shedding
Shedding skin is a natural process for snakes as they grow, but sand can make shedding more difficult. As the old skin peels off, sand grains may stick to it and impede the shedding process. This is especially problematic around the eyes, where stuck shed can cause vision problems.
Snakes that experience incomplete sheds due to sand obstruction may resort to rubbing against rough surfaces to try to scrape the stuck shed off. This can result in skin lesions or scale damage on the snake’s body.
Providing moist hide boxes can help snakes properly shed their skin after frequent sand exposure.
Identifying Snake Activity in Sandy Areas
Tracks and Trails
One of the best ways to identify snake activity in sandy habitats is to look for tracks and trails left behind in the sand. As snakes slide across sandy surfaces, they leave behind telltale patterns that can reveal what species was present and which direction they were heading.
Some key things to look for when identifying snake trails in the sand include:
- The shape and size of the impression – larger, heavier bodied species like pythons and boas will leave deeper trails than smaller, lighter snakes
- The pattern of the scales – the trails may capture intricate scale detail unique to certain species
- Signs of sliding vs. lifting motion – some snakes like vipers use a concertina method of locomotion
- Tail drag marks – these show as a line down the center of some trails
Burrows
In addition to surface trails, many species of snakes shelter in burrows excavated in sandy banks and hillsides. These burrows come in different shapes and sizes depending on the species.
For example, the burrows of rat snakes tend to be long horizontal tunnels used for overnight refuge and laying eggs. Gopher snake burrows go deep underground with multiple entrances to reach their rodent prey. Rattlesnakes may shelter communally in larger burrows with several side chambers.
When identifying an empty snake burrow, look for signs like tracks and skin sheds around the entrance. The width of the opening can also indicate what size snake likely created it. Use caution, however, since the occupant could still be at home inside!
Shed Skins
As snakes grow, they regularly shed their outer layer of skin. These shed “skins” are often left intact and can be discovered in sandy habitats frequented by snakes.
Shed skins can aid snake identification since scale patterns are usually still visible. Measurements of the intact shed can also provide estimates of the length and thus age of the snake that left it behind.
One study found the process of skin shedding, known scientifically as ecdysis, happens on average every 54 days for active snakes (Halls et al 2022).
Species | Average Sheds per Year |
Garter snakes | 4-6 |
Rattlesnakes | 2-3 |
Pythons | 1-2 |
So spotting multiple skin sheds of the same species in an area confirms recurring snake activity across seasons.To learn more on identifying snakes by their traces, visit this authoritative snake shedding guide from University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Lab.
Conclusion
In the end, a sandy habitat presents pros and cons for different snake species. For those well-adapted to deserts like sidewinders, sand provides an optimal environment to thrive. Meanwhile, moisture-loving snakes would find it challenging.
By understanding what attracts certain snakes to sand, and why it deters others, you gain fascinating insights into these incredible reptiles.
Next time you’re exploring a sandy landscape, keep an eye out for signs of snakes. With knowledge of their capabilities and habitat preferences, you may spot one of these stealthy creatures taking advantage of the shifting sands.