What is a major purpose of the sand viper's specialized sidewinding locomotion?

Minimizes contact with hot sand, reducing thermal load

Sidewinding is an extremely specialized locomotion strategy developed specifically for navigating loose, granular desert substrates like sand, and it serves critical thermoregulatory functions. When employing this movement, the snake throws its body into a series of loops, ensuring that only two small sections of its body touch the ground at any instant while the majority of the body remains suspended in the air. This minimizes the surface area in direct contact with the scorching hot desert sand during the day or when ambushing prey in intense heat. By reducing this contact, the snake drastically lowers its thermal absorption, thereby managing its internal temperature and reducing its overall thermal load, which is essential for survival in such an extreme climate.