Fun Trivia » Animals » Animals by Region » USA

The barred tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) is Arizona's only native salamander species and the only non frog/toad native amphibian found in the state. A large salamander, they can grow to thirteen inches in length from snout to tail and are found throughout much of the state except the lower southwestern and western deserts. There are three subspecies identified in Arizona by location: the barred tiger, the Arizona tiger and the Sonoran tiger, the latter of which is endangered, and protected by law.

The salamanders can either be terrestrial and branchiate (gilled); in dry seasons when there isn't enough standing water to allow larvae to develop, terrestrial salamanders remain on dry land and wait for the next breeding season. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Alligator, Caecilian, Eel

Despite their name, California condors historically did have populations in Arizona, with the last documented sighting of a condor in Arizona occurring in Williams, Arizona (near Flagstaff) in 1924. By 1982, California condors were on the verge of extinction with a population of only twenty-two birds, with the last remaining wild condor being captured in 1987 for species preservation. A captive breeding program resulted in the reintroduction of condors into California in 1992 and in Arizona in 1996. The first condor release in Arizona consisted of six birds released at the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument in northern Arizona. California condors can now be seen in the Grand Canyon during the summer months. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Gila woodpecker, Cactus wren, Tucson Toucan

The nine-banded armadillo is native to the United States and has poor eye sight. You may be able to observe them foraging for grubs and worms using their keen sense of smell. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

hedgehog, opossum, beaver

They come to islands every year in order to bear their young. The males arrive first then the females follow later. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Winter, Fall, Whenever they feel like it.

It looks so cute with this band of black around its eyes. Because of a mask's association with nefarious break-ins and other human crimes, the raccoon's mask has accordingly won this little animal a name as a trouble-maker as well. Its purpose, however, is three fold. It helps other raccoons recognise members of their own species quickly; it helps reduce glare; and it is said to also assist the animal in its night vision. This is thought to be particularly effective in helping the raccoon in its foraging expeditions into well-lit urban areas. Difficulty: Average.

 

Attracting colour blind insects and reducing glare, Mating practices and aiding night vision, A fashion statement and identification

Native Hawaiians were master fishermen and took advantage of the bountiful reefs and the rich Pacific open ocean. Ahi is yellowfin tuna, and one of the most prized fishes for sushi and sashimi. Other popular fishes are Aku (skipjack tuna) and Mahimahi (dorado). Difficulty: Hard.

 

salmon, eel, shrimp

The initial fall in the moose population within Yellowstone was due to over-hunting, leading to them become a protected species. Measures such as controlling wolf populations were taken in order to increase the number of moose.
However, other factors such as harsh winters and forest fires have meant that the species has not recovered as much as first hoped. Moreover, the favourite vegetation of the moose, the aspen, is becoming scarce.
Nevertheless, the human intervention has prevented the dramatic fluctuations in the moose population which the volatile climate of Yellowstone would otherwise cause.

Being such a large herbivore there are few predators which can threaten the moose. Packs of wolves (as mentioned above) are one and the grizzly bear is another, able to knock down a moose with a swipe of its powerful claw. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Mule deer, Elk, Hog deer

The desert bighorn sheep was made Nevada's state animal in 1973. It has existed in Nevada for more than 11,000 years. While the species was endangered for many years, numbers have rebounded and there are numerous herds, particularly in central Nevada. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Black bear, Mule deer, North American wolverine

Native to Mexico and the American Southwest, elf owls are 5 to 12 inches tall and have a wingspan of 15 to 16 inches. Difficulty: Hard.

 

pygmy owl, barn owl, great horned owl

The 30th president had a lot of pets - at least 4 cats, 7 birds and 12 dogs. As a world leader, he was also given a lot of animals, including at least 2 raccoons, a bear cub, thirteen Peking ducks, two lion cubs and a duiker (a small antelope). Some of the exotics were thoughtfully sent to more suitable zoo accommodation. Known as a very taciturn man (Dorothy Parker, on learning of his death, enquired "How could they tell?"), perhaps Coolidge was more at home with animals? Difficulty: Hard.

 

Budgerigar, Parrot, Lovebird

The "Virginia" Opossum actually lives in most of the Eastern half of the United States, the Pacific coast, and much of Mexico. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Meadow Vole, Deer Mouse, Spotted Skunk

The American Alligator can be found flourishing in marsh areas throughout Florida. Although most people fear these large reptiles, they are not natural predators of humans and therefore generally do not bother us. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Gatoris americanus, Alligator Aaericanus, Reptilia aligatorus

An opossum can bear up to 14 kits, each about the size of a honeybee. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Porcupine, Raccoon, Muskrat

 

Skunk, Wolverine, Raccoon

All of these animals are in the weasel family (Mustelidae), but the wolverine is largest. Difficulty: Hard.

 

River otter, Spotted skunk, Ermine

The Sonoran Desert toad (Bufo alvarius or Incilius alvarius) can grow to over seven inches in length and can weigh over two pounds. Its habitat includes most of southern and central Arizona, but it is now rarely seen along the Colorado River, from which it gets its alternative name. They live in burrows for most of the year but appear during the summer monsoon months for breeding and feeding, and they'll eat anything they can fit in their mouths: insects, lizards, mice and other toads.

Sonoran Desert toads have relatively smooth, olive-green skin and can resemble frogs with the exception of large glands on their head and legs that carry a poison that is toxic enough to kill a dog. In Arizona, we have training classes to teach dogs not to mess with snakes or Sonoran Desert toads. Difficulty: Average.

 

Rocky Mountain toad, Gulf Coast toad, Goliath child-eating toad

Charles Lindbergh had completed his flight across the Atlantic a few months earlier, and MGM decided to capitalize on his popularity by having a duplicate plane fly cross-country promoting their studios with their trademark, Leo the Lion, onboard. The plane was modified to accommodate Leo and his cage, and despite protests by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, stunt pilot Martin Jensen and Leo took off from San Diego, California, early on September 16, 1927.

However the plane was overloaded, with all of the fuel and the four hundred pound lion, and it wasn't able to climb over the mountains of central Arizona. Both Jensen and Leo survived when the plane crashed in a canyon near the town of Payson. Jensen hiked for a few days to get help, and it wasn't until a week later that a rescue team arrived for Leo. Although weakened, Leo survived the ordeal and went on to live a long life in a zoo. The canyon is now known as Leo Canyon. Difficulty: Hard.

 

A dog, A llama, A vulture

There has been a decline in the number of seals being born on the islands since the turn of the 21st century. There were over 250,000 seal cubs born in 1992. Difficulty: Hard.

 

1,000, 10,000, 1,000,000

How amazing is that! Raccoons have another unusual ability, and that is when they're descending from a tree or height of any kind. Instead of descending backwards as many mammals the same size do, the raccoon can descend headfirst. This is because the raccoon's feet can actually rotate in either direction. That's so impressive. Difficulty: Hard.

 

They can wear sneakers, They can grow extra toes, They can shrink right back in cold weather

The mountain lion (cougar) is a solitary cat which tends to hide away from humans. Its stealth and speed make it an ideal ambush predator on the sheep and deer which roam the land of Yellowstone. However, despite being the largest member of the cat family to inhabit the park, it is often unsuccessful in competing for prey against other predators such as the grizzly bear or wolves.

The mountain lion's population is extremely wide ranging, from the cold north of the Rockies to the searing heat of the Andes.
Difficulty: Easy.

 

Bobcat, Lynx, Jaguar

The mountain lion holds the Guinness record for the animal with the highest number of names. It boasts over 40 names in English alone. Difficulty: Hard.

 

jaguar, bobcat, lynx

As an Italian greyhound, surely he should have been 'Il Bello'? The Italian greyhound is the smallest of the gaze hounds (dogs that hunt by sight rather than scent). They were very popular with royalty, some of their most famous owners being Mary Stuart, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria, Catherine The Great and Frederick the Great. While researching this quiz I learned that the French have a greyhound saint called Guinefort. His legend is nearly identical to the Welsh one concerning Gellert (noble dog defended baby from snake, noble dog killed after parents find blood-stained dog and baby). John Tyler also had a horse called General and a pet canary named Johnny Ty. Difficulty: Hard.

 

French, Pink fairy, Siamese

Bison bison refers to the North American buffalo or bison. The muskox is Ovibos moschatus, while bighorn sheep are Ovis canadensis and mountain goats are Oreamnos americanus. Bison, muskoxen, sheep, and goats are all classified in family Bovidae, and order Artiodactyla which are even-toed hoofed mammals. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Bison, Bighorn sheep, Mountain goat

Six species of venomous snakes live in Florida: the southern copperhead, the cottonmouth (aka water moccasin), the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the timber rattlesnake, the dusky pygmy rattlesnake, and the eastern coral snake. Difficulty: Hard.

 

2, 8, 4

Contrary to legend, the Groundhog doesn't emerge from his burrow to look for its shadow. Instead it usually hibernates until late winter. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Jackrabbit, Pika, Ringtail

 

Possum, Otter, Weasel

The correct spelling is muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) . The muskie was named the state fish in 1955. It is a highly prized fishing trophy in Wisconsin, one that takes the average angler around fifty hours to obtain. The fish is part of the pike family and so is long and thin. The largest muskie on record was 72 inches long and weighed 70 pounds.

Muskies can be found in hundreds of lakes around Wisconsin, especially in the northern part of the state. It is a fairly common fish in North America and can be found in most US states.
Difficulty: Average.

 

muskilunge, meskinlunge, moscilenge

Arizona has five varieties of treefrogs which inhabit various regions of the state except the southwest corner. The Arizona treefrog (Hyla wrightorum) is a small (two inch), green or tan frog that inhabits the higher elevations of central eastern Arizona above 5,000 feet (1,524 meters). There is also a small population of the frogs in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona which differs from the other population and may in fact be a different species or subspecies. The Arizona treefrog became the official state amphibian in 1986 after being selected in a contest by schoolchildren. Clearly, the cute little treefrog appealed to children more than the lumbering, more deserving Sonoran Desert toad, which was one of the runners-up. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Canyon treefrog, Baja California treefrog, Lowland burrowing treefrog

Grizzly bears once roamed northern and eastern Arizona, and a smaller cousin, the Mexican grizzly bear, was present in southern Arizona. There are several contenders for the last wild grizzly seen in Arizona, all of them by hunters. All of the stories claim that the last grizzly was shot in central Arizona near the New Mexico border but the year varies from 1933 to 1939. Campaigns to reintroduce the grizzly into Arizona were unsuccessful during the first century of Arizona's statehood, largely due to protests by ranchers. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Mountain lion, Sabre-toothed tiger, Coyote

Other types of bird which are present in Yellowstone include the blue bird, which is too delicate to brave the harsh winter but flourishes in the summer due to the plentiful food supply of newly hatched insects (e.g. stonefly) by the side of thawing rivers. Another is the trumpeter swan, which can grow to have a wingspan of 7 ft and is typically larger than the bald eagle.

Although the bald eagle can be found in many other locations within the USA, visitors to the park have noted that its beauty seems enhanced when viewed in a setting as stunning as Yellowstone (rather than in the city).

Yellowstone Park's monitoring format is known as the "Bald Eagle Management Objective" and features 62 breeding pairs expected to produce 53 young per year. The park is currently surpassing this target and although the bald eagle has been removed from the endangered list the close monitoring is said to continue.
Difficulty: Easy.

 

The common loon, The golden eagle, The great blue heron

Mountain lions in Nevada are usually tawny or tan to reddish in color with black-tipped ears and tail. Mountain lions vary in size and weight, with males being larger than females. Adult males may be more than eight feet in length and average 140 pounds. Adult females may be up to seven feet long and weigh an average of 100 pounds.
Difficulty: Hard.

 

Bobcat, Leopard, Lynx

You can tell pigs and peccaries apart by the shape of their canine tooth, or tusk. European pigs have long tusks which curve around on themselves, while peccaries have short, straight tusks. Difficulty: Hard.

 

razorback, wild boar, feral pig

At its largest, the flock was as big as 18, and the flock's fleece, auctioned off to raise money for the Red Cross, earned $52,823. It also kept White House gardening costs down, but I bet nobody would let Old Ike chew tobacco now - he'd have patches or nicotine gum! Difficulty: Hard.

 

The President's shoelaces, Chewing gum, Its own hooves

Though not indigenous to North America, the Norway rat, "Rattus norvegicus", is now found across the continent where people are concentrated. It is also called the Norwegian rat, the house rat, common rat or wharf rat. The muskrat is Ondatra zibethica and the Florida water rat, also known as the round-tail muskrat, is Neofiber alleni. The bushytail woodrat is Neotoma cineraa. Rats, woodrats, and water rats such as the muskrats are all rodents in order Rodentia. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Muskrat, Florida water rat, Bushytail Woodrat

A wolverine can kill animals as large as a deer. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Skunk, Badger, Mink

 

1 to 3, 7 to 9, 10 to 12

 

Cheetah, Ocelot, Puma

Grizzlies are members of the order Carnivora, even if they are omnivorous in diet. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Bison, Mountain lion, Black bear

Michigan is the correct choice. Illinois does have the deer as its state animal, not its wildlife animal. Eight other states have the white tailed deer as their state symbol: Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources estimates there are roughly 1.8 million deer in the state. The DNR recently announced that deer populations were at an all time high, creating problems for both the deer and the humans who live near them.
Difficulty: Hard.

 

Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois

The small (two to four inch) barking frog (Craugastor augusti) is only known to inhabit a small region of mountains in southern Arizona. Unlike other amphibians in Arizona, baby barking frogs emerge directly from eggs, bypassing the tadpole stage, and there are reports of parental care of the eggs until the babies hatch. The barking frog is heard more often than it is seen as its call is distinct; decades can pass between confirmed sightings of the secretive frog. Difficulty: Average.

 

American bullfrog, Western chorus frog, Red-eyed treefrog