A preliminary analysis of the movement and home range size of the sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes
Secor SM. 1992. A preliminary analysis of the movement and home range size of the sidewinder, Crotalus cerastes. Pages 389-393. In Biology of pitvipers
Movement and home range size of sidewinders (Crotalus cerastes) were measured in the eastern Mojave Desert during 1988 and 1989. Data were collected from individuals of all ages including adults implanted with radio-transmitters. Chiefly nocturnal, sidewinders travel an average of 128.3 meters over a one-day period when active. For all individuals, males and females did not differ significantly in the distance travelled, though adult males did travel significantly farther than adult females. Significant differences in movement distance existed between age groups (neonates, juveniles, subadults, adult males, and adult females) for each season and throughout the year. Sidewinders move significantly greater distances in the fall than during the spring or summer. Gravid females travel significantly shorter distances than non-gravid adult females. Sidewinders typically move in a non-linear fashion with straight-line measurements averaging 54.6% of the actual distance travelled. Home range size, calculated using sighting locations and movements, averaged 14.7 hectares. Home range size did not differ significantly between males and females, but was significantly correlated with the number of separate sighting locations and the duration of observations.
- Type
- Book Chapter
- Authors
- Secor, Stephen
- Units
- MOJA
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Crotalus cerastes, Kelso Dunes Mojave National Preserve, Range