The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite Trivia Quiz

Answer: horn-like scales above the eyes

Compared to other rattlesnake species, the sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) is a small snake, generally no longer than 80 cm (31,5 in). A dweller of the desert regions of the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico, it gets its common name from its peculiar locomotion, which helps the snake move rapidly on the sand, producing J-shaped tracks. Its specific name "cerastes" means "horned" in Latin, and refers to the raised scales above each of the snake's eyes, which look like a pair of small horns, and probably have the function of protecting the eyes from drifting sand. Though venomous like all pit vipers, the sidewinder is not as dangerous as other rattlesnakes, and - due to its habitat - is not as frequently encountered. In any case, it does not possess particularly long fangs nor a larger-than-normal rattle, and its skin is definitely NOT brightly-coloured: on the contrary, this snake's neutral colouration makes it easy for it to blend with its natural desert environment.

Incidentally, the R.E.M. song that gives the quiz its title probably refers to an antique style of phone rather than a snake.

Answer: Eastern diamondback

Most people living in the southeastern US will be aware of the massive eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), which can reach a length of over 2 m (6.6 ft), and weigh as much as 6 kg (13.3 lbs). The common name "diamondback", a translation of the Latin "adamanteus" ("diamond-like"), refers to the snake's distinctive diamond-shaped pattern. An excellent swimmer, the eastern diamondback inhabits swamps, marshes, woodlands and sandhills throughout its range, where it exists in large populations - in spite of hunting and human expansion. Not surprisingly, the eastern diamondback is considered North America's most dangerous snake: with the longest fangs of any rattlesnake and a powerful hemotoxic venom, it can easily kill a person, and its bite often leads to severe tissue damage. Another similar species, the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), is found in the southwestern US and Mexico.

Of the three incorrect choices, only the hundred-pace viper of Southeast Asia is a crotaline. The puff adder is a true viper found in Africa, and the tiger snake is one of the many notorious Australian elapids.

Answer: Mojave

The common name "Mojave rattlesnake" given to Crotalus scutulatus is a bit of a misnomer, because most of this dangerous reptile's range lies outside the Mojave Desert of southeastern California and southern Nevada. In fact, this rattlesnake is also found in desert or semi-desert regions of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico. This greenish, brown-patterned snake is ranked as one of the world's most dangerous because of its extremely toxic venom, which - unlike the venom of most other rattlesnakes - contains a strong neurotoxic component. The Mojave rattlesnake is also considered to be particularly aggressive towards people, though there is no scientific evidence for that. In any case, it is a good idea to give these snakes a wide berth.

Though the remaining choices are all major deserts, none of them is located in North America.

Answer: timber

The timber rattlesnake, also known as canebrake, lives in densely forested areas (hence its name) of the eastern and central US, as far north as New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It is a rather large snake (up to 1.80 m/5.10 ft), marked with a dark zigzag pattern. Though the timber rattlesnake is not an aggressive species, it is potentially quite dangerous because of its size and high venom yield.

A culturally significant species, it is found in most of the original 13 colonies, and was adopted as a symbol of their anger at the British during the American Revolution.

The Gadsden flag, named after a Revolutionary general, bears the image of a coiled rattlesnake ready to strike, with the warning words "Don't Tread on Me" written below. In 2008, th timber rattlesnake was designated as West Virginia's state reptile.

Answer: a Greek deity

The bushmaster's generic name comes from one of the Three Fates (Moirai), the Ancient Greek deities that incarnated destiny. Lachesis ("the allotter") measured the thread of life allotted to each person - a fitting name for one of the world's most dangerous snakes. Found in the equatorial forests of South America east of the Andes, the bushmaster is the largest of all viperids, reaching a length of up to 3 m (10 ft). As its specific name ("muta") implies, it has no rattle, though it has a habit of vibrating its tail when alarmed, as rattlesnakes do. Its pattern of dark, triangular blotches on a tan or greyish background makes it easy for the bushmaster to hide in the undergrowth and ambush its prey (mostly rodents). Though it is rare for humans to encounter this elusive snake, a bite from a bushmaster is a very serious medical emergency, as its venom can cause massive internal bleeding.

Rather aptly, Bushmaster is also the name of an American firearms manufacturer.

Answer: Martinique

The generic name Bothrops (Greek for "pit-face") refers to the loreal pit, the heat-sensitive organ located between the eye and the nostril after which pit vipers are named. Though the much-feared snakes belonging to this genus are often referred to as "fer-de-lance" or "lanceheads", experts restrict the use of this name to Bothrops lanceolatus, a snake found only on the island of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles. As these snakes were a hazard to workers in the sugar cane plantations on which the island's economy relied, in the 19th century, Asian mongooses were introduced to Martinique to curb the fer-de-lance population - with detrimental effects on the native bird population. The fer-de-lance is considered one of Martinique's symbols, and appears on the island's unofficial flag. The venom of the fer-de-lance is unique in the snake world, because it causes thrombosis (blood clots) in its victims.

Unlike Martinique, the other Caribbean islands listed as incorrect choices are sovereign countries.

Answer: hypertension

Bothrops jararaca is found in forested and open areas of southern Brazil, northern Argentina and northeastern Paraguay. Its common name, derived from the Tupi language, means "large snake", which is not exactly accurate, as jararacas rarely grow longer than 1.5 m (4.11 ft). Like other pit vipers, the jararaca has a pale-coloured body with darker markings of variable shape. Due to its plentiful numbers throughout its range, which includes some of Brazil's most heavily populated areas, this snake is responsible for a very high rate of snakebite cases, some of which (though fortunately not many) result in death. On the other hand, jararaca venom (like other snake venoms) has proved useful for medical purposes, as it contains a peptide from which drugs known as ACE inhibitors - used in the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure - have been developed.

The golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis), a close relative of the jararaca, though estimated to be much more venomous, is endemic to the island of Queimada Grande, off the coast of the Brazilian state of São Paulo, where it is found in such large numbers that the island is off-limits to visitors.

Answer: cottonmouth

Endemic to the southeastern US, the water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus) is the largest member of its genus. Though not a fully aquatic species like the sea snakes, it is generally found in or near slow-moving water; its specific name means "fish-eater" in Latin. The water moccasin is a shortish (up to 90 cm/35 in) but stout-bodied snake, generally black (with the exception of the head and face); the name "cottonmouth" comes from its habit of threatening intruders by opening its mouth, displaying its white lining. Equipped with a powerful cytotoxic venom, the cottonmouth is much feared throughout its range, because its bite - though rarely fatal - is very painful, and may cause extensive tissue damage requiring amputation. However, the cottonmouth's venom has been shown to have some clinical applications in cancer treatment.

The name copperhead denotes both a close relative of the cottonmouth, Agkistrodon contortrix, and a much more dangerous Australian elapid. The carpet viper is a true viper, while the coral snake is also an elapid.

Answer: Caspian Sea

The snakes of the Gloydius genus are found in most of Central and East Asia; due to their similarity to the Agkistrodon genus, they are also known as Asian moccasins. They are found in a variety of habitats, including at high elevation. Gloydius halys occurs from southwestern Russia, mostly in the region where the Volga, Europe's longest river, empties into the Caspian Sea, to northern China; however, it is rare west of the Urals. This short snake (average length is 50 cm/19 in) is possessed of a reasonably potent venom, and should be treated with respect; according to some sources, it is not a particularly aggressive species, but - like most snakes - will strike if threatened.

The Dead Sea is located between Israel and Jordan; Lake Baikal is in Siberia, east of the Urals, and Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia, near the city of St Petersburg.

Answer: liquor-making

Protobothrops flavoviridis ("yellow-green", a reference to the snake's colouration), also known as the Okinawa habu, is found only on the Ryukyu Islands, the chain of Japanese islands that lie between Taiwan and Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. With their warm, humid climate and lush vegetation, the Ryukyu Islands are home to many pit viper species, of which the habu is the largest, with an average length of 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft). Though fatalities are rare, the habu possesses a highly toxic venom, which has been known to cause loss of motor function in the hands and legs of some snakebite victims. Because of the habu's abundance, in the 1910s a number of small Asian mongooses were introduced on Okinawa - with similar negative effects on the native fauna as those mentioned in relation to Martinique (Q.6). On the other hand, habus have more to fear from humans than the other way round, as these snakes are collected in large numbers for the preparation of "habushu", a liqueur made by inserting a habu in a bottle of awamori, the local sake.

This potent drink, which is believed to have aphrodisiac properties, is very expensive, especially if the snake has been kept inside the bottle.