Angela Lynn Tedder, age 7, of Timmonsville, S.C. for her question

HOW MANY TYPES OF RATTLESNAKES ARE THERE?

One of the few poisonous American snakes is the rattlesnake. With a shake of the rattle at the end of his tale, the snake will often give a warning sound before he strikes and bites.

Rattlesnakes are classed among the pit vipers. The largest number live in the dry region from the southern states of the United States through the Mexican highlands.

One type of rattlesnake is found over a large part of South America. Only one kind of rattlesnake lives in almost the whole of the northern United States west of the Mississippi Valley. A few other kinds can be found in the valley and east of it.

All rattlesnakes bear live young instead of laying eggs. The newborn snakes can take care of themselves.