Sweet as a Honey Badger? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cassowary

Cassowaries are often cited as the most dangerous birds in the world. Flightless and weighty, cassowaries are known to kick with their powerful legs, each of which ends in three sharp claws, the middle of which can be five inches long.

Answer: Least weasel

The least weasel is, as the name suggests, the smallest member of the Mustelidae family that also includes badgers, otters, martens and wolverines. In many countries, the least weasel is simply known as the weasel. Least weasels are ferocious fighters in defence of their territory and impressive hunters capable of killing much larger prey than their small stature would suggest, although they generally stick to more manageable small rodents such as mice and voles.

Answer: Black mamba

These snakes come in a variety of colors such as olive or khaki, but rarely black. The name is attributed to the color inside their mouth. They attack when threatened, often striking repeatedly. The black mamba is also widely recognized as being the fastest snake, sprinting at speeds of 12 mph (19 kph).

Answer: Bull shark

Although the great white shark gets all the press, bull sharks actually pose more of a threat to humans than their glitzy cousins. Dwelling in shallow seas, bull sharks have been known to adapt to both brackish and fresh water, leading to frequent interactions with human victims.

Answer: Saltwater crocodile

The saltwater crocodile is not just the largest crocodile in the world, but also holds the title of largest reptile. They are vicious hunters that will "snap up" anything edible that wanders too close to where they are lurking in the water. While small prey can simply be chewed up and swallowed, larger prey such as deer, goats, water buffalo and even, on occasion, humans, have to be overpowered and drowned underwater before these crocodiles can set about eating them.

Answer: Wild boar

Unlike their more friendly domesticated counterparts, wild boar are very aggressive and don't require much provocation to protect their territory. Attacks on humans normally occur during the rutting season, typically between November and January in the Northern Hemisphere.

Answer: Hippopotamus

The humble hippo may look friendly, but appearances can be deceptive. Whilst they spend much of their day wallowing in water or mud, hippos will act decisively to defend their territory. An enormously powerful bite combined with the ability to run faster than most humans means that the hippopotamus is best left alone.

Answer: Tasmanian devils

Tasmanian devils are generally solitary creatures, but they apparently enjoy communal mealtimes and will call other devils when they either find or kill a large enough animal. The awful noises made both by the call to dinner and the sounds of the dinner being consumed led them to be renamed Tasmanian devils in the 19th century (other options such as 'Beelzebub's pup' and 'Satanic meatlover' were also considered). Part of the noise also comes from the somewhat aggressive fights the creatures get into at these meals.

Answer: Northern goshawk

The northern goshawk is not the friendliest of birds, typically living either alone or in a mating pair. They are known for their 'display flights' in which they fly impressively over their territory to display to all other comers that it is not available. The northern goshawk can be found across Canada, Russia, and much of Northern Europe.

Answer: Sun bear

In general, bears are a species to avoid in the wild due to their immense strength and unexpected speed. However, the most dangerous species of bear to encounter is one of the smallest - the sun bear. These bears are native to the forests of south-east Asia and have gained a reputation for being quick to attack, even without any apparent provocation. Since they live in tropical climes, they have no need to hibernate through a cold winter season and you are just as likely to come across one in mid-winter as mid-summer.