Trisha Watkins, age 12, of Watertown, N.Y., for her question:

IS THERE A HOGNOSE SNAKE?

A common harmless snake found in North America is called the hognose snake. It received its unusual name because its snout is upturned and looks much like a hog's nose.

Sometimes this same snake is called the puff adder, the hissing adder or the spreading adder. The snake lives in most parts of the United States.

The hognose snake is usually black in color and has white circular lines down each side of its back. The snake is usually about 24 inches long.

Many people are afraid of the hognose snake because it can take on a very threatening position when it is under attack. It can flatten its head, expand its neck, open its mouth wide and hiss loudly.

The hognose snake uses all of its aggressive tricks to frighten away an intruder. If the tricks don't work, the hognose will pretend that it is dead.