Marine Life Mania Trivia Quiz

Answer: At night.

Coral polyps are soft-bodied animals and have no backbone (meaning they are invertebrates). Most coral polyps live in large colonies. When the coral polyp is a larva (baby) it is the size of a pin end and is free swimming.

Answer: It can be cut and polished and made into jewellery.

This coral is often used for jewellery around Hawaii. Black coral is the official state gem of Hawaii. Surprisingly enough, this coral is related to the sea anemone which is a filter feeding animal that is home to the clownfish.

Answer: About 400

The whale shark's teeth do not really serve a purpose as it is a filter-feeding fish. These magnificent animals are found most commonly in tropical waters and have been known to weigh over 20 tonnes. Although it is huge in size, this animal is rather calm and does not appear to pose a threat to humans except for the occasional person being accidentally hit by its enormous tail.

Answer: 12 metres

The Whale shark is the longest of all fish that live today. The females of this species are normally larger than the males, which is very common among species of sharks.

Answer: True

Yes, sea sponges are animals; they can filter water through their bodies and excrete sperm cells through their holes. The sea sponge is among the simplest of animals as they have no internal organs, muscles or nerves. These animals also have no "real" circulatory system as they just allow water to circulate through their bodies from the water current.

Answer: Around 8000

Sea sponges live attached to rocks and other things on the sea bed. Sea sponges can live in almost any climate except for climates that are extremely cold.

Answer: It can expel its intestines at them.

Sea cucumbers are echinoderms and are found in oceans all over the world. The sea cucumber has got this name because of its cucumber-like appearance. If this animal excretes its organs at a predator it can grow them back. Especially in Asian countries, the sea cucumber is considered a delicacy and is also used for its medicinal properties.

Answer: 10

Crabs, lobsters and shrimp all have 10 limbs. Crabs can be found in both fresh and salt water environments. Like many animals they can have large variations in size with some species having a leg span of up to 4 metres, while others having just a leg span of a few millimetres.

These creatures, depending on what species they are, usually eat fungi, bacteria, small to medium sized molluscs, worms and plant material that is found in their natural habitat.

Answer: True

Cone shells have managed to kill some people because they contain a neurotoxin, a substance that is very dangerous to vertebrates (like humans). This toxin causes muscle paralysis which can stop the heart from pumping blood around the body. Cone shells are found in marine environments across all the world's reefs.

In Australia there are around 80 species of cone shell. A cone shell's diet usually consists of worms and other molluscs.

Answer: True

Worldwide there are around 600 different species of feather stars. Feather stars are in the class of Echinoderms, which are marine animals that are found at all different water depths. These animals' diet usually consists of plankton and bits of suspended material in the water.