sidewinder

sidewinder

sidewinder common name for a rattlesnake , Crotalus cerastes, found in the deserts of the SW United States. This 2-ft (60-cm), pale yellow and pink snake is named for its curious method of locomotion. It throws out successive loops at oblique angles, which gives it the appearance of moving sideways. This mode of progression, also evolved by certain African desert snakes, enables it to move over sand, which offers little traction. The sidewinder has prominent, erect scales above its eyes and is sometimes known as the horned rattlesnake. During the heat of the day it lies half buried in the sand; it hunts small animals in the evening. The sidewinder is classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Reptilia, order Squamata, family Crotalidae.

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"sidewinder." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"sidewinder." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sidewind.html

"sidewinder." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sidewind.html

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Sidewinder

Sidewinder AIM-9 an air-to-air missile with a nonnuclear warhead and an infrared, heat-seeking homing device. It was introduced in the 1950s and is still in use today. The ground-to-air equivalent is the Chaparral.

The Sidewinder got its name from early prototypes that zigzagged in flight, owing to off-center placement of the homing device that caused the target to appear to be moving as the missile spun in flight, thus influencing its flight path.

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"Sidewinder." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Sidewinder." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-Sidewinder.html

"Sidewinder." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-Sidewinder.html

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sidewinder

sidewinder (horned rattlesnake) Nocturnal rattlesnake found in deserts of sw USA and Mexico. It has horn-like scales over the eyes and is usually tan with a light pattern. It loops obliquely across the sand, leaving a J-shaped trail. Length: to 75cm (30in). Family Viperidae; species Crotalus cerastes. The term is also used to describe desert-dwelling snakes of the Old World that move in a similar way.

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"sidewinder." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"sidewinder." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-sidewinder.html

"sidewinder." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-sidewinder.html

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sidewinder

side·wind·er1 / ˈsīdˌwīndər/ • n. a pale-colored, nocturnal, burrowing rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes) that moves sideways over sand by throwing its body into S-shaped curves. It is found in the deserts of North America. side·wind·er2 • n. a heavy blow with the fist delivered from or on the side.

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"sidewinder." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"sidewinder." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sidewinder.html

"sidewinder." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sidewinder.html

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Sidewinder

Sidewinder The name of the SPIDER used by the INFOSEEK SEARCH ENGINE.

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DARREL INCE. "Sidewinder." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DARREL INCE. "Sidewinder." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-Sidewinder.html

DARREL INCE. "Sidewinder." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-Sidewinder.html

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sidewinder

sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) See CROTALIDAE.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "sidewinder." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "sidewinder." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-sidewinder.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "sidewinder." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-sidewinder.html

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sidewinder

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"sidewinder." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"sidewinder." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-sidewinder.html

"sidewinder." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-sidewinder.html

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