Mammals Starting with "P" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Argentina

The pichi, also known as the dwarf armadillo, is native to the Pampas region of Chile and Argentina. Rarely seen during the day, the pichi is usually found underground during the daylight hours. They are solitary animals that spend nighttime hours hunting for insects, lizards, fungus, and small mammals. The pichi is also the only armadillo known to hibernate.

Answer: Underwater bottom feeders who love worms and insects.

Platypuses are night feeders who hunt underwater. They are bottom feeders who use their unusual duck-like bill to find prey. Their unusual bill has hundreds of receptors which respond to the tiny electric currents released by all animals. They dine on insects, larvae, worms, and shellfish.

They store their prey in cheek pouches along with small bits of gravel and mud. Once their cheeks are full, they come to the surface where the gravel is used to grind the food down. Platypuses do not have teeth so the gravel helps them to "chew" their food. Males have sharp hollow spurs on their hind ankles that excrete a venom which can kill their favorite prey or incapacitate a human.

Answer: Pangolin

Found in areas of both Africa and Asia, the pangolin is covered in tough, overlapping scales. The pangolin is known for burrowing to reach its favorite foods of ants and termites. When they find these treats, they use their long stick tongue to catch them. When threatened, they roll themselves up into tight balls that some predators find impregnable.

Answer: Borneo

The unusual proboscis monkey is indigenous to the island of Borneo in the country of Indonesia. The exaggerated nose is used to entice available females. This unique monkey also has an unusually distended stomach. This monkey was traded across southern Asia and northern Africa. Ancient Egyptians believed these animals to be protected by the gods and venerated them. For many years there was scholarly debate as to whether this unusual animal was even a monkey.

Answer: Omnivorous

The peccary is a omnivorous mammal that is related to the domestic pig. This nocturnal mammal lives in the Americas, and often gathers in herds. Peccaries are omnivores and will eat fruit, seeds, cactus, and small animals. They have large tusks that they use for protection.

Answer: Ursine

For years scholars debated whether the giant panda was actually a bear. DNA has now proven that they really are bears, albeit unique ones. They spend their days dining on bamboo. Because bamboo is so low in nutrients, pandas eat over 70 pounds of it each day. Habitat loss, low reproduction rates, and naturally low population levels have served to keep the giant panda population on the edge of extinction for many decades.

Answer: False

This is completely false. There are a couple of animals called a polecat, but none of them are actually felines. In some areas of Europe there is an animal called a polecat that is actually a weasel. In areas of the U.S. the skunk is known as a polecat.

Answer: Keratin

The porcupine is often found chewing wood and clothing in an attempt to get salt. The porcupine is an excellent swimmer as well as an excellent climber. The thousands of quills found on a porcupine are made from keratin, the same substance that makes your hair and your nails.

These formidable quills can cause death to larger animals that venture too near and end up with a mouthful of quills, rendering them unable to eat.

Answer: Seal

Seals make up the majority of a polar bear's diet. Other animals that can be found in a polar bear's diet include birds, fish and the occasional walrus. When times are hard, the polar bear is known to hunt reindeer. They are not a favored prey as they can easily outrun a polar bear, who is only fast in short spurts.

The polar bear's heavy fur and thick layers of blubber may keep it warm in frigid weather, but it can also cause them to overheat in summer months.

Answer: Hang from branches for long periods of time

The quiet, nocturnal potto has hands designed to hang from tree branches for extended periods of time. It does have five digits on each arm; the index finger is underdeveloped, while their thumbs are opposable. On their feet, each digit has nails. The second toe has a "toilet claw" which is pointed and sharp.

This specialized nail is used for grooming themselves and other members of their group. They hang for hours from branches; even mating is carried on while hanging. Pottos are found in the forest canopy and rarely come to the ground.