Playful baby snake? (7)
I believe the answer is:
rattler
This might be a double definition.
'playful baby' is the first definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'snake?' is the second definition.
(rattler is a kind of snake)
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rattler that I've seen before include "American pit viper (informal)" , "remarkably fine specimen" , "American snake (informal)" , "old crate" , "excellent specimen" .)