Snakes live under rocks, in burrows, or they may be sand swimmers. A few snakes live in holes in the ground. There is very little food underground. Therefore, they crawl out of their hiding places at night, and hunt for their food. A well made burrow of one animal often attracts other animals. The burrow of the gopher tortoise in the South Eastern United States is inhabited regularly by rattle snakes, indigo snakes, two kinds of lizard, the gopher frog, various small mammals, and a number of insects.
Anthills and the nests of termites also have snake and lizard guests. The reptiles of Central America occasionally shelter in the burrows of leaf cutting ants, armadillos, and those of poisonous spiders called tarantulas.