Animals by Region Trivia Questions and Answers
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1. Not exclusive to North America yet a carnivore that is easily recognized due to its dog-like appearance. It species name is Canis lupus. Who is this carnivore - the subject of debate and lore?
Answer: Gray wolf
Interesting Information:Very few, if any, animals have been the subject of legend and deliberation more than the gray wolf. They were once often shot on sight due to the assumption by many that the entire species were blood thirsty killers. Seen as a threat to the livestock trade (beginning in the early 1800s), wolves were killed in great numbers - sometimes to collect a bounty. Times and circumstances have changed. Some attitudes have changed, too. Beginning during the second half of the twentieth century gray wolves were reintroduced into some areas of North America where they had been completely eradicated.
Difficulty: Very Easy.
From Quiz: Know Your North American Carnivores
Some incorrect choices:
Red fox, Brown bear, Black panther
2. The sugar glider is known to live on which continent?
Answer: Australia
Interesting Information:These nocturnal creatures with long tail and beady eyes have a thin membrane which can help them glide in the air, very similar to that of a flying squirrel. They eat insects in the summer when they are abundant, but in winter their preferred diet is the sweet sap from plants and trees.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: The World of Animals [2]
Some incorrect choices:
Asia, Africa, South America
3. What usually nocturnal animal is flightless and a national symbol of New Zealand?
Answer: kiwi
Interesting Information:The kiwi is endemic to New Zealand and is the only bird to have nostrils at the end of its beak. It has a highly developed sense of smell.
Difficulty: Easy.
From Quiz: What Antipodean Animal is This?
Some incorrect choices:
kangaroo, emu, kea
4. A medium sized antelope called the impala comes from which continent?
Answer: Africa
Interesting Information:The impala lives in wide open spaces and can roam a great distance. It has a scent gland above the heel on each hind leg to enable it to follow its trail back to the herd.
Difficulty: Easy.
From Quiz: The World of Animals
Some incorrect choices:
Asia, South America, Australia
5. Where in the world is the kiwi (bird)?
Answer: New Zealand
Interesting Information:The kiwi bird is a national symbol for New Zealand.
Difficulty: Very Easy.
From Quiz: Where in the World??
Some incorrect choices:
India, Northern Africa, South America
6. These are rabbit sized mammals living under boulders in colonies like those of the prairie dog, but not rodents.
Answer: Hyrax
Interesting Information:Rock hyraxes (Procavia spp.) are found in many locations throughout Israel from uplands to desert wadis. This unusual mammal is thought to be the closest relative of the elephants and may well be 'coney' ('shafan') mentioned in the Bible (Deuteronomy 14:7)
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Mammals of the Holy Land
Some incorrect choices:
Groundhog, Porcupine, Marten
7. Which dove migrates to Africa for the winter and returns to the Holy Land in the Spring ?
Answer: Turtle dove
Interesting Information:The Turtle dove's call is a gentle purr. The Laughing dove, also known as the Senegal or Palm dove, is an introduced species and found in all human settlements throughout the year. The Collared dove is found in rural areas and the edges of cities. The Town pigeon is actually the same bird as the Rock dove which still nests wild in the Judean desert.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Birds of the Holy Land
Some incorrect choices:
Laughing dove, Collared dove, Town pigeon
8. Gorilla - Chimpanzee - Pygmy hippopotamus - Elephant - Blue Turaco - Python - ?
Answer: Okapi
Interesting Information:The Western and Central African tropical rainforests are some of the largest remaining wild areas of the Globe. Unfortunately their size is shrinking with each passing year. To make matters worse, illegal logging, poaching and hunting are still problems which are not entirely taken care of.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Geo-Zoo - Other Missing Links
Some incorrect choices:
Giant Panda, Saiga Antelope, Galah
9. Capybara - Caiman - Piranha - Hoatzin - Toucan - Peccary - ?
Answer: Jaguar
Interesting Information:You may find all these species in the Amazonian basin - the World's largest area of tropical rain forest.(its surface is ten times larger than the surface of France for example).
Though constantly diminishing in size, due to blindly human exploitation, the tropical rain forests are still home to more than half of the total animal and plant species.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Geo-Zoo - Missing Links by Region
Some incorrect choices:
Snow Leopard, Caracal, Lynx
10. Platymantis vitiensis, sometimes called the Levuka wrinkled ground frog, is endemic to which Polynesian country?
Answer: Fiji
Interesting Information:It is also known as the Fiji tree frog and loves the tropical lowland forests of the country's name that it bears. If you're looking for it, then it would be best to start somewhere near a stream. It is a "near" threatened species, thanks to human encroachment which has resulted in a substantial thinning of its habitat.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: More Than Kangaroos & Koalas: The Fauna of Oceania
Some incorrect choices:
New Guinea , New Zealand, Indonesia
11. From which continent does the bumblebee bat originate?
Answer: Asia
Interesting Information:Another name for the bumblebee bat is the Kitti's hog-nosed bat. Native to Burma and Thailand, it is believed these bats are one of the smallest mammals in the world.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: The World of Animals [2]
Some incorrect choices:
Europe, Australia, North America
12. Another national symbol and strict herbivore, which animal is a bit of a bounder?
Answer: kangaroo
Interesting Information:The term "kangaroo" refers to the larger members of the Macropodidae family, of which there are 4 species found in Australia. There are another 50 or so smaller macropods found in Australia and New Guinea. Macropod means "large foot". Smaller macropods include rock wallabies, wallaroos, tree kangaroos and the rat kangaroo. Kangaroos are the only large animal to move by hopping, but cannot move backwards. They are also good swimmers.
Difficulty: Easy.
From Quiz: What Antipodean Animal is This?
Some incorrect choices:
dingo, koala, kookaburra
13. The beautiful but dangerous Amur tiger comes from which continent?
Answer: Asia
Interesting Information:The Amur tiger is a critically endangered species. There are only 400-500 left living in the wild. A carefully controlled breeding programme has been designed to save the species from total extinction.
Difficulty: Easy.
From Quiz: The World of Animals
Some incorrect choices:
Africa, Europe, South America
14. Where in the world is the pronghorn?
Answer: United States
Interesting Information:The pronghorn is swifter than a thoroughbred racehorse, it can reach and sustain speeds of over 80 km per hour (~50 mph).
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Where in the World??
Some incorrect choices:
Central Africa, Australia, India
15. This beautiful hoofed mammal is a small graceful antelope found over much of Israel.
Answer: Gazelle
Interesting Information:Known as 'tzvi' in Hebrew, the mountain race of Arabian gazelle is found over much of the country and the whereas the Dorcas gazelle can be found in the southern desert. Roe deer, though found in the country, are not antelopes but deer. The other two are antelopes, but are found in Africa.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Mammals of the Holy Land
Some incorrect choices:
Roe deer, Eland, Klipspringer
16. Which bird is often assumed to be a hummingbird by American immigrants and visitors?
Answer: Orange Tufted sunbird
Interesting Information:The male orange tufted sunbird has an iridescent green and purple sheen though he seems black at a distance. The female is modest brown/grey. These birds have spread successfully throughout the country, enjoying the nectar of flowers in gardens and parks.
The other birds are fictional :).
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Birds of the Holy Land
Some incorrect choices:
Jordanian sapphirewing, Middle-eastern jewelbird, Syrian flowerpecker
17. Bobcat - Western Diamondback - Coyote - Black-tailed Jackrabbit - Gila Monster - ?
Answer: Turkey Vulture
Interesting Information:Unlike most habitats, the deserts are increasing in area. The hot days, cold nights and lack of water make survival hard for wildlife. The North American desert makes no exceptions, but a surprising number of animals have found a way to deal with the harsh conditions.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Geo-Zoo - Other Missing Links
Some incorrect choices:
Bird of Paradise, Imperial Eagle, Cassowary
18. Giraffe - Ostrich - Cheetah - Black Rhinoceros - Warthog - Lion - ?
Answer: Thomson's Gazelle
Interesting Information:Although you may find all these animals in a zoo, their natural habitat is the East African savanna. This grassland is warm all year round and it has two seasons: a dry one and a wet one. Depending on this, the huge herds of herbivores migrate in search for water.
Difficulty: Easy.
From Quiz: Geo-Zoo - Missing Links by Region
Some incorrect choices:
Przewalski Horse, Komodo Dragon, Wapiti
19. What is a kea?
Answer: Parrot
Interesting Information:The kea is the world's only alpine parrot and is found on the south island of New Zealand. It is an omnivore and (ugh) it has carrion on its menu. Whatever happened to "Polly want a cracker"? It will also eat roots, berries, nectar and insects. The bird is highly intelligent and has been filmed using tools to get at food. Sadly, its numbers dwindled during the twentieth century as farmers saw it a threat to their livelihood. Now listed as endangered, it receives full protection under New Zealand's Wildlife Act of 1953.
Difficulty: Very Easy.
From Quiz: More Than Kangaroos & Koalas: The Fauna of Oceania
Some incorrect choices:
Wolf, Eel, Lizard
20. Historically, this big cat has enjoyed a range from southern Canada, throughout the United States, and into Mexico. Who is this feline, so named for a "missing" body part?
Answer: Bobcat
Interesting Information:Easily recognized by its bobbed or shortened tail, the bobcat is a member of the lynx family. Its species name is Lynx rufus. While many other large carnivores are facing extinction or, at best, drastic reduction of their numbers in the wild, the bobcat seems to continue to survive. It is not viewed a huge threat to most of society because its diet primarily consists of other animals that themselves viewed as undesirable, for example, mice, rats, rabbits, etc.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Know Your North American Carnivores
Some incorrect choices:
Mountain lion, Jaguarundi, Saber-toothed cat
21. On which continent would you find the marmoset swinging from the trees?
Answer: South America
Interesting Information:This small, tree loving monkey feeds on insects, bird eggs, leaves and berries. Their long tail aids in balance when they swing from tree to tree in the Amazon jungle where they live. Most marmosets are approximately 20cm long and can be identified by their ear tufts and long claws.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: The World of Animals [2]
Some incorrect choices:
Africa, Europe, Asia
22. The next animal is an onomatopoeic alpine flyer from New Zealand. Can you name it?
Answer: kea
Interesting Information:The kea is one of the few alpine parrots. Rated as one of the most intelligent birds in the world, its intelligence and curiosity have helped it to survive in the harsh alpine environment. Their forward behaviour around people is sometimes seen as endearing and sometimes problematic. They are now a protected species, having once been hunted for a bounty.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: What Antipodean Animal is This?
Some incorrect choices:
kiwi, rosella, cassowary
23. From which continent does the numbat originate?
Answer: Australia
Interesting Information:The numbat can eat about 20,000 termites a day and because of this it may also be known as the banded anteater. The numbat is an emblem of Western Australia.
Difficulty: Average.
From Quiz: The World of Animals
Some incorrect choices:
Asia, Europe, Africa
24. Where in the world is the leopard seal?
Answer: Antarctica
Interesting Information:Leopard seals are the only seals that regularly prey on warm-blooded creatures, including penguins and other seals.
Difficulty: Easy.
From Quiz: Where in the World??
Some incorrect choices:
Europe, India, Caribbean Islands
25. This predator is a small wild dog which hunts alone or in pairs.
Answer: Jackal
Interesting Information:Golden Jackals (Canis aureus) prey on weak and injured gazelle when they can. Wolves also live in Israel but are larger, though paler and slighter than timber wolves. Hyenas live in the southern deserts but are solitary.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Mammals of the Holy Land
Some incorrect choices:
Wolf, Coyote, Hyena
26. Condor - Flamingo - Llama - Alpaca - Vicuna - Velvet-purple Coronet -?
Answer: Spectacled Bear
Interesting Information:The Andes are the longest mountain range in the world. They are home to several species not otherwise found in South America. Large animals are pretty scarce but there is a great abundance of birds around the mountain lakes.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Geo-Zoo - Other Missing Links
Some incorrect choices:
Hyrax, Aardvark, Diana Monkey
27. Dromedary - Golden Jackal - Oryx - Horned Viper - Gecko - ?
Answer: Fennec
Interesting Information:With far less species than the two previous habitats, the tropical deserts are a tough place to live. The species populating these areas found different and original forms of adaptation to the harsh environment.
The species listed are to be found in the Sahara desert.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Geo-Zoo - Missing Links by Region
Some incorrect choices:
Okapi, Armadillo, Anoa
28. The dhole can be found roaming which continent?
Answer: Asia
Interesting Information:The wild dog of southern Asia is on the endangered list due to habitat loss, hunting and possibly disease. Living in packs of between three and twelve, or more, they can be distinguished by their thick reddish coat with white under parts.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: The World of Animals [2]
Some incorrect choices:
Australia, South America, Africa
29. What carnivorous marsupial is now the largest marsupial carnivore in the world and is only found on this island formerly known as Van Diemen's Land?
Answer: Tasmanian devil
Interesting Information:The Tasmanian devil is a protected species only occurring on Tasmania. After the extinction of the thylacine, it is the world's largest carnivorous marsupial. Unfortunately devil facial tumour disease is now making this protected animal vulnerable to extinction.
Difficulty: Easy.
From Quiz: What Antipodean Animal is This?
Some incorrect choices:
dingo, wombat, emu
30. The meerkat comes from which continent?
Answer: Africa
Interesting Information:The meerkat has outstanding longsighted vision. It has a dark band around both eyes which enables it to see prey even if it looks directly into the sun. The meerkat will often miss food directly in front of it because of nearsightedness.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: The World of Animals
Some incorrect choices:
Asia, South America, Europe
31. Where in the world is the orangutan?
Answer: Borneo
Interesting Information:Although the orangutan is solitary for most of its life, it forms lifelong bonds with others, which are renewed during occasional forest encounters.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Where in the World??
Some incorrect choices:
Madagascar, Central America, Africa
32. Two prickly mammals live in Israel but which one eats worms and other invertebrates?
Answer: Hedgehog
Interesting Information:The Indian porcupine is a vegetarian and quite common though not often seen because it is nocturnal. Its beautiful black and white banded spines can sometimes be found shed on the ground. Spiny echidnas live in Australasia and the thorny bat only exists in my imagination.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Mammals of the Holy Land
Some incorrect choices:
Porcupine, Spiny echidna, Thorny bat
33. It looks like a large black starling, has a patch of orange on each wing and if you whistle to it, it will probably whistle back !
Answer: Tristram's grackle
Interesting Information:These Grackles are common around the Dea Sea area, though flocks are known to roam the entire country outside the breeding season. Many birds show up in Jerusalem to the north, several thousand feet above their usual Dead Sea haunts.
Jackdaws are small crows common on city outskirts. They have greyish heads and raucous, slightly nasal sounding calls.
Blackbirds are thrushes and beautiful songsters, often heard making their music in the parks and gardens of the region.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Birds of the Holy Land
Some incorrect choices:
Jackdaw, Blackbird, Raven
34. Himalayan Black Bear - Yak - Bhutan Glory - Snow Leopard - Bearded Vulture - Red Panda - (Yeti?) - ?
Answer: Bar-headed Goose
Interesting Information:The Himalayan mountains form a massive natural barrier, inducing a major climate effect. While the north range has dry conditions, the southern foothills experience frequent rainfalls. The medium-level forests, along with the Tibet plateau house a great diversity of species, many of them unique throughout the world.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Geo-Zoo - Other Missing Links
Some incorrect choices:
Meerkat, Chipmunk, Elf Owl
35. Echidna - Emu - Red Kangaroo - Koala - Dingo - Wombat - ?
Answer: Frilled Lizard
Interesting Information:The distinctive species of the Australian bushland are the egg-layer mammals and the marsupials. Almost all the native Australian mammals belong to one of these two primitive mammal groups, this being the result of the continent's isolation.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Geo-Zoo - Missing Links by Region
Some incorrect choices:
Opossum, Hippopotamus, Gila Monster
36. The tuatara is a lizard endemic to New Zealand. What is the translation of its Maori name, which highlights one of its external features?
Answer: Peaks on the back
Interesting Information:The tuatara is the only surviving member of the order Rhynchocephalia but its lineage goes back some 200 million years. Sometimes grey in colour, they are predominantly greenish brown, are about 80 centimetres from tip to tail end and have two rows of upper teeth. The spiny ridge on their back, that lends itself to their name, is more pronounced in the male of the species. The species fell prey to the (introduced) Polynesian rats and loss of habitat to the point where it essentially disappeared from the mainland of New Zealand and could only be found on the country's surrounding islands. In an effort to bring the lizard back, a section of the Karori Sanctuary was fenced off in 2005 and a number of the lizards were released into it.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: More Than Kangaroos & Koalas: The Fauna of Oceania
Some incorrect choices:
Blue tongue, One of no legs, Scaly friend
37. The pine marten (Martes martes) is known to live on which continent?
Answer: Europe
Interesting Information:The pine marten (Martes martes) is native to most parts of Europe and northern Britain. It comes from the same family as stoat, mink, otter and badger. It closely resembles the American marten (Martes americana) apart from having more distinctive markings.
Difficulty: Average.
From Quiz: The World of Animals [2]
Some incorrect choices:
Australia, South America, Africa
38. What reptile from New Zealand has the lowest body temperature of all reptiles and can remain active at 5 degrees Celcius?
Answer: tuatara
Interesting Information:Loss of habitat and the Polynesian rat resulted in the extinction of the tuatara on mainland New Zealand. Captive breeding programmes and eradication of rat populations on some offshore islands seemed to have helped.
Its low body temperature means a slow metabolism and relatively long life span - "Henry", a tuatara at Southland Museum in Invercargill, is reported to have became a father in 2009 at the age of 111 years.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: What Antipodean Animal is This?
Some incorrect choices:
komodo dragon, salt-water crocodile, north-western ridge-tailed monitor
39. Another bird which lives in New Guinea is the megapode. This bird is unusual in that it does not incubate its eggs with body heat. How do megapode birds incubate their eggs?
Answer: They build a mound of vegetation and leaves
Interesting Information:The megapodes in New Guinea can be seen in the barren areas which surround large volcanoes. Because of the notorious lack of food in these areas, the presence of the megapode bird usually suggests that it is about to lay its eggs. The reason for choosing this volcanic, ashy terrain is for the warmth of the earth, as well as the lack of predators who may steal the eggs.
The egg of a megapode bird is very large, as the mother will bury it in the mound and move on, never to meet her young, so the chicks need to be born large, capable of fending for themselves.
The name megapode literally means "big foot" due to the bird's physical appearance. Megapodes are chicken-like birds, but some have significantly longer legs than others.
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: Wild in New Guinea
Some incorrect choices:
Allowing other birds to incubate them, Laying them in warm water, Building nests of twigs in trees
40. On which continent would you find the fishing cat?
Answer: Asia
Interesting Information:The diet of the fishing cat may include birds, small mammals, snakes, snails and fish. The cat can attract fish by gently tapping the surface of the water and this will create a ripple effect as though an insect has landed. Fish will investigate and the fishing cat will pounce!
Difficulty: Hard.
From Quiz: The World of Animals
Some incorrect choices:
South America, North and Central America, Australia
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