Fun Trivia » Animals » Miscellaneous Animal Trivia » Animal Colors

White tigers, with their streaky stripes and sky blue eyes, are seen, superficially, as majestic and beautiful. But, all that comes at a price: the same gene that causes the lack of production of the orange pheomelanin pigment also contributes to cross-eyedness, clubfootedness, defective organs and other health issues. The double recessive pheomelanin gene mutation should only naturally appear in 1 in 10,000 tigers. It was in 1958 that the last white tiger was seen in the wild. Most, if not all, white tigers in captivity have a common ancestor in Mohan, a Bengal tiger who was bred with his daughter in 1958. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Siberian, Caspian, Barbary

Lagopus muta is commonly known as the ptarmigan or rock ptarmigan. Its annual change of plumage is a form of seasonal camouflage, as the heathland, mountain slopes and tundra where it makes its home is covered in vegetation in summer (when a bright white bird would be instantly obvious to predators) and snow in the winter (when a brown bird would have the exactly the same problem). To solve this awkward problem, the ptarmigan simply moults off its brown feathers as winter approaches - so if you spot one in the autumn then it might have an interesting mottled brown-and-white appearance.

Question submitted by Fifiona81. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Pheasant, Quail, Capercaillie

The zebra shark is one of the species included in the order Orectolobiformes, whose members are commonly known as carpet sharks. These large fish are actually named for their intricate markings (said to resemble the patterns on carpets) rather than their propensity to be found laid out on the floor. Other members of the order include nurse sharks, whale sharks and wobbegongs.

Oddly enough if you spot a large adult shark covered in black-and-white stripes then it definitely won't be a zebra shark. In fact, the zebra shark could be more accurately described as a 'leopard shark' as its body is covered in small dark spots. Its other key distinguishing features are five elongated ridges running lengthwise down its upper body and a very long caudal (tail) fin. Juvenile zebra sharks look very different to the adults and do have the distinctive striped appearance that you'd expect given their name. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Bullhead sharks, Mackerel sharks, Saw sharks

The Christmas Island red crab can only be found on Christmas Island and Cocos Island. They number in the millions and are usually bright red in colour. However, there are also the occasional orange ones and the much rarer purple-hued crabs. The crabs normally inhabit the rainforest but it is not unusual to find them along the shore or in gardens. During the mating season between October and January, the crabs migrate to the sea to mate and spawn. The males dig mating burrows and the females produce eggs in the three days after mating. After twelve days or so, the females release the eggs into the sea during the high tide. The eggs hatch upon contact with sea water and many larvae are eaten by marine predators.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member purelyqing. Difficulty: Hard.

 

The inland forest, An underground cave, Upriver to the source

The Bombay isn't named for its location of origin, but for its resemblance to the Indian black panther. The 'default' Bombay is an American Bombay. In the UK the Burmese was instead bred with a British shorthair which can, unlike the American version, colour the eyes green rather than the typical gold or copper colourations. They are otherwise extremely similar and difficult to tell apart.

The other cat breeds here aren't typically black, although they are all known for often having dark or black facial colourations. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Tonkinese, Birman, Siamese

Like a lot of red-coloured creatures, the colouring of this frog is meant to deliver a warning to predators. Whilst the tomato frog is not toxic it does produce a sticky white mucus that can upset the mucus membranes of other creatures. Found only in the north-west of Madagascar this frog will burrow into damp ground during the day and become active at night. They do not tend to hunt, preferring to lie in ambush for whatever insect happens to make its way by. Despite being a large frog they will puff up when threatened and it is as much for this action as their colouring that resulted in their name. They are currently an endangered species due to the deforestation of their natural habitat.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member pollucci19. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Beet frog, Radicchio frog, Red onion frog

The purple firefish (Nemateleotris decora) is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, typically in a range between Mauritius, Tonga, the Ryukyu Islands, and New Caledonia. It is a fairly small fish, generally not exceeding three inches or so. Despite its small size, it is a strong leaper. Those who keep the purple firefish in an aquarium are advised to select an aquarium with a secure hood.

The main body of the purple firefish is white or yellow, gradually darkening to a gray near the tail. The head is purple and the fins have stripes of purple, red, orange, and black.

Question from bernie73 Difficulty: Easy.

 

Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Southern Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Southern Ocean

The great white and the small white are very similar butterflies, in adult form showing white-yellowish wings. The great white's wings have a black tip, and female great whites also have two black spots on the wings. The small white has no black wingtips, but all adults sport some black spots on the wings. The caterpillars of both species feed on cabbages and related plants, hence also the name cabbage white (especially for the great white).

There are a great white owl and a great white shark, but they have no "small" counterpart. The small white pig is extinct, and there has not been a great white pig.

Question submitted by JanIQ. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Owls (Strigiformes) , Sharks (Lamniformes), Pigs (Suidae)

The red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest but not most numerous species of kangaroo in Australia; that honor belongs to the eastern grey kangaroo. The red Kangaroo is mainly distributed over central and western Australia with some territories overlapping with its cousin the grey kangaroo. The red Kangaroo is not found in Tasmania or Papua New Guinea.

Because it resides in the hotter regions of Australia, it has adapted magnificently to its environment: its kidneys can concentrate urine much more effectively than say humans, and it has the ability to delay pregnancy when drought conditions are in force. A full grown adult male can reach 2 meters or 6 foot 7 inches height.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member 1nn1. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Australia wide, including Tasmania, Tends to congregate on the fringes of human settlements, Northern Australia including the Torres Strait Islands and New Guinea

Also known as the Indian purple frog, this little creature from the Sooflossidae family is found in the mountain ranges along the western coast of India. Astonishingly, and although its tadpole was acknowledged in 1918, the adult purple frog wasn't formally recognised until 2003. That's a bit like the chicken and the egg conundrum. This poor little frog is really ugly, so one has to feel sorry for it. It has a bloated, glistening, light purplish-grey body, and a small head (but one that comes with an unusual pointed nose described as a snout). This has resulted in the unfortunate little creature also being referred to as the pignose frog. Insult to injury. The male is much smaller than the female, only one third the length in fact, but it tries to over-compensate for this with a very loud, harsh call during mating season. "Yoo hoo, honey, I'm hawwwwwme". Sadly though, this call, which is meant to impress the ladies, tends to sound more like a clucking hen. A creature only a mother could love.

Question from Creedy Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Greece, Hawaii, Portugal

The reddish egret is a medium-sized bird in the heron family found in southern coastal areas of the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean islands and the Bahamas. Adult reddish egrets have two different morphs or colour variations. Those with a dark morph are a dark smokey grey with a red head and neck feathers; those with a white morph have entirely white plumage. The morph remains constant from birth. Egrets from one morph may mate with egrets from the other morph.

The species is considered threatened, particularly in the United States, where they are the rarest heron species.

Question submitted by pitegny. Difficulty: Hard.

 

A hybrid of two different bird species, A totally different species, Special colouring that appears only during mating season

The common name of the red panda is firefox and it is the only living member of the Ailuridae family. But for some time their classification was the subject of much conjecture. Initially they were placed in the same family as raccoons (Procyonidae) because of their ringed tail and their similarities in respect to their head shape and teeth. Then, after some DNA testing, they were classed alongside the giant panda as bears (Ursidae) however, further research has now placed them into the superfamily Musteloidea, once again bringing them closer to raccoons and skunks but with their own family.

Mozilla, the parent company for Firefox, originally named the project Phoenix as it rose out of the ashes of a previous project. This name was already trademarked so Mozilla then trialled the name Firebird. This name was also in use by another company and the name became Firefox, a case of third time lucky. Whilst the red panda was used for their name, their logo is in the shape of a fox.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member smpdit. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Red squirrel, Red fox, Red kangaroo

Labs come from the east-coast island province of Newfoundland. They are very comfortable around water, and are often listed among the most popular breeds of dogs, since they are friendly and dependable in temper. Labs can range in colour from black through to brown and yellow. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Australia, England, France

The purple honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus) is a member of the tanager family, with a range covering Colombia, Venezuela, parts of Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It is also occasionally found in Panama and Trinidad. The male is the one with the purple plumage, with black accents, whilst the female is much less showy, with pale blue-green and yellow bodies and a reddish head. Their diet consists of fruit, nectar, seeds, berries and small insects.

Question from spanishliz Difficulty: Hard.

 

Southern Europe, Australia and New Zealand, Central Asia

The Scottish deerhound is a sighthound that was specifically bred to hunt red deer by coursing. This means they use sight rather than scent as their main method of tracking prey and then catch them. Unlike scent hounds which can track an animal for long periods of time over great distances, coursing usually involves speed and a quick end to the chase.

The Scottish deerhound's ancestors trace back to before recorded history in Scotland so it is a very ancient breed. Deerhounds are similar to greyhounds but have bigger bones and muscles. Deerhounds can have a variety of coat colors including red fawn and sandy red.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Tracking, Chasing and cornering, Flushing

Black-tufted marmosets will also eat fruit and insects, and - if they run short of their normal food - small animals and eggs. However, snakes are generally more likely to eat the marmosets than the other way around! Difficulty: Hard.

 

Mangos, Poisonous spiders, Snakes

The Kermode bear is a North American Black Bear, found mainly in British Columbia, which has white fur due to a recessive gene. Approximately 10 per cent of the black bears in the region are Kermode or Spirit Bears. It is not an albino; it has dark eyes, nose lips and paws. It is also not related to the Polar bear. Its light colouring cause it to stand out in the dark green forest areas which form its habitat.

The Spirit Bear is of great significance to the Canadian First People, and is designated as British Columbia's official animal.

Question submitted by windrush Difficulty: Hard.

 

Casper Bear, Albino Black Bear, White-Brown Bear

The Neritidae family includes a range of both freshwater and saltwater sea snails, most of which are native to the southern hemisphere. Various individual species are known as 'zebra snails' because of the distinctive patterns on their shells; while some display the black-and-white stripes you might expect, others have stripes with different colours or different patterns entirely.

Some examples include Puperita pupa, a black-and-white striped snail found in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, and Neritina natalensis, which is a popular aquarium snail thanks to its propensity for eating the algae that builds up on the side of fish tanks.

As a matter of interest, the edible snails served up in French restaurants as escargot are land snails. Difficulty: Hard.

 

African grasslands, Back gardens in the northern hemisphere, On a French menu as 'Escargot'

The eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) is named for its skin, which is a dark blue-black colour which appears purple in certain lights. It is native to the eastern United States, and can be found in southern states such as Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Its preferred habitats are sandy areas, though it sometimes shares burrows with gopher tortoises. As it is not venomous, it kills its prey by shaking and beating them to death. Eastern indigo snake populations in northern Florida have suffered due to habitat loss; efforts have been made by the Florida Wildlife Commission to increase numbers in the wild.

Question from Kankurette Difficulty: Hard.

 

Africa, Asia, Europe

Northern white rhinos are critically endangered and functionally extinct. This is because there are no more living known males of the species. The remaining female northern white rhinos can be found in Kenya living on a wildlife preservation. The southern white rhinos are more numerous and can be found in Southern Africa. Conservation efforts to save the southern white rhino have been very successful.

Question submitted by Joepetz. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Eastern and Western, African and Asian , Pure and Half

The name zebra longwing reflects the black-and-white striped appearance of the adult butterfly. It is native to most areas of South and Central America and can also be found in the southern United States, particularly Texas and Florida (it was named as the official state butterfly of Florida in 1996). Its larvae feed exclusively on three species of passionflower: the corky-stemmed passionflower, two-flower passionflower and (in the United States) the yellow passionflower. Passionflowers in general are commonly associated with butterflies of the genus Heliconus and have evolved defensive measures against their caterpillars called trichomes. However, the zebra longwing caterpillar is particularly adept at circumventing these traps.

While lavender, marjoram and sweet william are all good plants for attracting butterflies into your garden, none of them are native to the Americas, so are not associated with the zebra longwing. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Lavender, Marjoram, Sweet william

Lobsters have a carotenoid pigment in their shells called astaxanthin. This compound absorbs blue light and appears red, red-orange or yellowish. However, this compound is bound to a protein called crustacyanin. This protein flattens the structure of astaxanthin changing its optical properties. When heat is applied (i.e. cooking) the protein is not stable. It "releases" the astaxanthin allowing its redness to be visible.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member 1nn1. Difficulty: Hard.

 

A duller red, Jet black, Somewhere between charcoal and midnight blue

Female black flies like to feed on humans and other warm-blooded animals; the males are generally content to eat nectar. In Africa, the females are responsible for spreading the parasite that causes onchocerciasis, or "river blindness", which can cause itching, skin changes and eye damage. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Malaria, Elephantiasis, Lyme Disease

Their eyes, beak, tongue, bones, internal organs... all of them are black. The colouring stems from a genetic mutation resulting in a gene (EDN3) which essentially 'tells' melanin-producing cells to go to the wrong places. Leif Andersson, a Swedish researcher, traced the genetic mutation back to a single ancient chicken.

In Java, Indonesia, the chickens have an association with magical powers and so aren't often eaten there. Ayam means 'chicken' in Indonesian, and Cemani is the village in which they first originated. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Rhode Island Red, Cochin, Barnevelder

The splendid sunbird (Cinnirys coccinigastrus) is a tiny, but stunningly-coloured bird, similar to a hummingbird both in size and in its ability to hover in the air. Also like hummingbirds, these passerine birds feed mainly on nectar, and their thin, down-curved bills are adapted to this purpose; however, they will occasionally take insects and spiders. Splendid sunbirds are found in west and central Africa, in savannah and wooded areas. As is often the case in bird species, the male is brightly coloured, with most of its body a glossy purple, a dark green back and a red breast patch, whereas the female is a much more subdued greenish-brown colour. The species is listed by IUCN as Least Concern (2018).

All the remaining options are birds found on the African continent.

Question from LadyNym Difficulty: Hard.

 

Pallid swift, Spotted crake, Rock firefinch

The snow leopard is native to Central and South Asia and usually found in the high mountains of this region. Its habitat ranges from Afghanistan and Russia in the west to Bhutan and China in the east. The snow leopard is a solitary creature and sightings of this reticent creature are rare. This has earned it the nickname of the "Ghost of the Himalayas". Snow leopards have thick creamy or yellow tinged coats with large patterned spots called rosettes. Their colour helps them to blend into the snow clad mountains where they live.

Question submitted by zorba_scank. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Alps, Andes, Rockies

The okapi is sometimes known as the zebra giraffe because it is both a member of the giraffe family and has distinctive white stripes on its upper legs and rump that are distinctly reminiscent of the zebra. In the wild, it can only be found in the tropical canopy forests of areas of the African nation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which probably explains its other alternative name - the forest giraffe.

The okapi was given 'endangered' status by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2013. The decline in its population numbers resulted from a combination of factors, including its limited range, hunting and habitat destruction.

An oryx is a type of antelope, an onager is a Asian wild ass and the olingo belongs to the same family as the raccoon. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Oryx, Onager, Olingo

Tradition has it that lady refers to the Virgin Mary and in fact the beetle is called Marienkafer or Marybeetle in German. One legend holds that crops in Europe during the Middle Ages were plagued by pest infestations so the farmers prayed to Mary and the ladybugs came. Most species of ladybugs eat aphids and other pests and are therefore welcomed by farmers. The seven spotted ladybird is said to represent the seven sorrows and seven joys of Mary.

Ladybugs or ladybird beetles belong to the Coccinellidae family and there are between 5,000 to 6,000 different species throughout the world. Most species are omnivorous meaning they eat both other insects and plants or pollens. Still most favor a carnivorous diet although a few species are mainly herbivorous and pests themselves. Although most people think of ladybugs being red, they can also be orange, yellow, black, dark grey, gray, or brown. They also may or may not have spots or stripes.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Mother Nature, The Divine Goddess, Eleanor of Aquitaine

Dottybacks are a family of fish that are mostly found around reefs in tropical and sub-tropical ocean waters. The orchid dottyback is only known to reside in the Red Sea (and in numerous tropical aquaria). They are quite suitable for domestic fish tanks, as they are small (up to about six cm long), a beautiful pink-purple color, and generally get along well with other reef-dwelling species. They like to hide in holes or under ledges, so you may find that they tend to spend a lot of time lurking in or under your tank decorations! As they are quite territorial, it is recommended that you only have one per tank, unless the tank is quite large and offers a lot of hidey holes. If you do have a pair, it is suggested that you purchase two of distinctly different size. Orchid dottybacks are protogynous hermaphrodites, which means that they are born female, and can change to males under the right circumstances. In this case, the larger one will usually change to be a male, allowing them to become a breeding pair.

Question from looney_tunes Difficulty: Hard.

 

Roaming the Sahara desert, Under a rock in Siberia, Perched on a tree branch in the Amazon basin

The Honduran white bat (Ectophylla alba) is found in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and western Panama. It has high concentrations of carotenoids, giving it bright yellow nose-leaf, ears and lips. It is one of only six bat species to have all-white fur; its wing membranes are black.

An adult's head and body length is less than 2 inches, and weight is 5 to 6 grams. It is a tent-making bat, cutting helliconia leaves to form a shelter.

Question submitted by windrush. Difficulty: Hard.

 

White numbat, Snow leopard, White swan

Gymnomuraena zebra is commonly known as the zebra moray (a type of eel) thanks to the thin black-and-white stripes that stretch along the entire length of its body. It is native to shallow waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and fairly widespread across these regions. Don't be fooled into looking for one in the Moray Firth area of Scotland as the name 'moray' derives from a Latin term meaning eel rather than the Scottish place name.

The zebra moray tends to spend its day coiled up in a handy crevice on an underwater reef or rocky seabed, before coming out at night to hunt crabs and other crustaceans as well as molluscs or sea urchins. There are over 200 known moray eels and the zebra moray is relatively unusual in limiting its diet to this list of shellfish - most other species of these eels are known for hunting small fish, octopuses and squid as well. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Wolf herring, Seahorse, Catfish

American black bears are more closely related to Asian black bears than to polar bears or brown bears. With the brown bear, it is considered to be at relatively little risk of extinction. Black bears are omnivores; they are especially fond of hazelnuts, acorns and pine nuts. Difficulty: Hard.

 

It is the largest bear in the world., It is more at risk of extinction than any other bear., It is exclusively a carnivore.

Although rare, they are an actual animal. On August 20th, 1994, on a ranch in Janesville, USA, a single pure white buffalo calf was born. The calf was not an albino, but an animal exhibiting a form of albinism where there is no melanin in skin pigmentation but her eyes were blue instead of the familiar pink albino eyes. Her name is Miracle and the local tribes celebrated her birth as a time of purification and renewal for the children of Mother Earth.

Question supplied by em1958 Difficulty: Average.

 

They do not exist, it is just a legend, The last one died in the 1800s, There are thousands wandering the plains

The population of red squirrels throughout the UK has declined dramatically since the 1960s. There are approximately 140,000 red squirrels left, mainly situated in Scotland. The grey squirrel's population is much higher at 2.5 million. The decline is not easily explained and many factors are involved; competition for food and habitat, and diseases that the red squirrels are susceptible to that the grey squirrels carry but are not affected by.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member smpdit. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Water vole, Rat, Chinchilla

The cheerful and friendly little chickadee, which does indeed wear a black cap, inhabits temperate woodlands across North America. It is often seen at backyard bird feeders feasting on high-calorie snacks like suet and peanuts. On cold nights it can lower its own body temperature to save energy. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Can burrow as much as two feet underground, Able to hide unnoticed in nests of larger birds, Frequently nests in working chimneys