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1. What large mammal that mostly died out during the Pleistocene is a close relative of modern-day pachyderms?


answer Answer: Woolly Mammoth

Interesting Information:
The woolly mammoth most closely resembles modern-day elephants. The woolly mammoth had much longer tusks (growing up to 16 feet) than today's elephants but their ears were much smaller in size. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Sabre-toothed Tiger, Pterodactyl, Megalosaur

2. The Iditarod is a dog sled race held in which US state?


answer Answer: Alaska

Interesting Information:
The Iditarod follows the path of a 1925 diphtheria serum run and was first run in 1973. Although the ceremonial start of the race is in Anchorage, the race really has its official start in Willow (It used to start in Wasilla, but was moved due to the lack of snow at that location). The end of the race is Nome. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Wisconsin, Washington, Montana

3. What kind of animal is a dik-dik?


answer Answer: Antelope

Interesting Information:
A dik-dik is one of the smallest species of antelope. It lives in the eastern parts of Africa. They stand about a foot tall, and weight only 3-6 kilograms. This is about the size of a baby gazelle. Difficulty: Hard.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Bear, Bird, Tortoise

4. Animals: Is the Tasmanian Devil living, extinct, mythological or a folk tale?


answer Answer: Living

Interesting Information:
The cartoon character, Taz, may not be real, but the Tasmanian Devil is, and it lives, unsurprisingly, in Tasmania! It is the largest carnivorous marsupial, and although it is only the size of a small dog, it is known for its ferocity. The Tasmanian Devil population is being ravaged by a contagious facial cancer - the threat is so great that healthy animals are being removed from the wild to be kept as breeding stock should the wild population die out. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Extinct, Mythological, Folk tale

5. What breed of dog is named for a set of islands off the coast of Scotland?


answer Answer: Shetland Sheepdog

Interesting Information:
The Shetland Islands are a set of Scottish islands known for their oil production. The Shetland Sheepdog is a herding dog known for its resemblance to the collie. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Irish Wolfhound

6. I am the world's largest living lizard and I live in the tropical area of Indonesia. What am I called?


answer Answer: Komodo Dragon

Interesting Information:
By far the largest lizard on the planet is the Komodo Dragon. It can get as long as 10 ft. and weigh as much as 150 lbs. While they usually eat carrion, pigs and deer, they have been known to attack and eat humans! Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Gila Monster, Godzilla Lizard, Pacific Gecko

7. Which bird is, incorrectly, said to hide its head in the sand when in danger?


answer Answer: ostrich

Interesting Information:
It is a myth that the ostrich hides its head in the sand when frightened. In fact, the ostrich stretches out its long neck along the ground in an attempt to blend in with the surroundings. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
peacock, vulture, eagle

8. What is a female leopard called?


answer Answer: leopardess

Interesting Information:
A group of leopards is called a leap. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
doe, princess, lioness

9. What country did the Chihuahua originate in?


answer Answer: Mexico

Interesting Information:
Chihuahuas are very tiny dogs. Their name sounds Spanish. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Spain, Ecuador, Germany

10. The eggs of an American robin are generally what color?


answer Answer: blue

Interesting Information:
The eggs will hatch after about two weeks, and the chicks will leave their nest about another two weeks after that. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
white, brown, gray

11. Harriet was a Galápagos tortoise who died at the Australia Zoo in 2006. What famed naturalist is believed to have collected her?


answer Answer: Charles Darwin

Interesting Information:
Several five year old tortoises were picked up by the HMS Beagle on its voyage to the Galapagos in 1835. This made Harriet approximately 175 years old at her death. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Captain James Cook, Stephen Jay Gould, Steve Irwin

12. The sea parrot is usually known by another name. What is it?


answer Answer: Puffin

Interesting Information:
There are three types of puffin; Atlantic, horned and tufted. Their short wings are well adapted for swimming with a flying style under water. Puffins share body shape and coloring with penguins due to convergent evolution; however, whilst penguins are native to the southern hemisphere, puffins are native to the northern hemisphere.
Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Penguin, Cormorant, Gannet

13. I am a bird native to Australia and New Guinea, famous for my loud laughing call. I am a member of the kingfisher family, what am I?


answer Answer: Kookaburra

Interesting Information:
The kookaburra is easily recognisable by both its distinctive call and colouration in both suburban backyards and in the 'bush'.
The kookaburra also lends its name to the Australian Men's hockey team, as a well-known brand of cricketing merchandise and Kookaburra III, a yacht that unsuccessfully challenged for the America's Cup.
Kea is a parrot, Kakadu is a massive National Park in the Northern Territory and kestrel is a species of falcon. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Kea, Kakadu, Kestrel

14. Mallard, tufted and Mandarin are all varieties of which species?


answer Answer: Duck

Interesting Information:
The mallard is the most common of European ducks, the male in particular being easily recognised by its dark green head. The tufted duck's black-and-white plumage is also distinctive, while the brightly-coloured Mandarin was introduced to Europe from China. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Squirrel, Bandicoot, Ant

15. The phrase "boneless, brainless and bloodless" is often used to refer to which type of creature?


answer Answer: jellyfish

Interesting Information:
In an interesting article in the August/September, 2009 issue of "National Wildlife", it is suggested that the massive numbers of jellyfish seen in recent years may be attributable to a severe decline of the world's marine ecosystems. For example, jellyfish do quite well in polluted waters, and there are now more than 400 so-called "dead zones" in the earth's oceans, areas where fish cannot survive but jellyfish thrive. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
starfish, snakes, frogs

16. Which mammals belong to an order that gets its name from the Latin verb "to gnaw"?


answer Answer: rodents

Interesting Information:
The order Rodentia, which includes hamsters, gerbils, and squirrels, is the largest mammalian order by far. The source of the name "Rodentia" is the Latin verb "rodere" (to gnaw), a reference to the order's chewing habits. Rodents' incisor teeth continue to grow throughout life and they must gnaw to wear them down.
Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
elephants, primates, bats

17. There are several kinds of mammals that can propel themselves through the air effectively but there is only one that can fly. Which is it?


answer Answer: Bats

Interesting Information:
Bats are the only mammal that truly flies. The flight of bats is different from that of birds as they are more maneuverable which enables them to avoid flying into objects, but as they are nocturnal we know less about their flight mechanisms. The structure of their wings and the development of the muscles used is also at variance to that of birds. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Flying squirrels, Leadbeater's possum, Saki monkeys

18. Cormorants in Japan have been domesticated to assist with which industry?


answer Answer: Fishing

Interesting Information:
For more than 1300 years cormorants have been used to aid river fishermen, who tie a snare near the base of the bird's throat allowing only small fish to be swallowed by the bird. Fish too large to be swallowed are removed by the fisherman. Although more efficient fishing methods have developed, the tradition of Cormorant fishing continues, and has become part of the Japanese tourist industry. Difficulty: Hard.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Car Manufacture, Transport, Rice production

19. Which bird's nest is known as an eyrie?


answer Answer: an eagle's

Interesting Information:
Eagles are large birds of prey which exist in many places around the world. They typically have powerful talons and beaks, for catching and eating their prey. Very keen eyesight enables them to spot their prey from great distances.
They usually build their eyries on cliffs or in tall trees. These eyries may be used over several years and can get to be quite substantial in size. I once saw the eyrie of a bald eagle, which looked almost large enough to be a small bachelor apartment! Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
an ostrich's, a puffin's, a penguin's

20. This whale has a long unicorn-like tusk extending from its head. Can you name the whale?


answer Answer: Narwhal

Interesting Information:
The narwhal is an Arctic toothed whale. It is prominently known for having a tusk growing out of its head, which is actually one of its front teeth. There have been instances of narwhals being found with two tusks, but, these are a rarity. The narwhal's tusk is made from ivory, and it once was believed to have magical properties. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Orca, Sei Whale, Beluga

21. Which adult fish, found on ocean floors, has both eyes on one side of its head?


answer Answer: Flounder

Interesting Information:
A flounder hatchling is born with one eye on each side of its head, but one eye migrates as the fish matures until both are on the same side of the head. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Tuna, Swordfish, Blue whale

22. Many horses sport a reddish-brown coat, mane, and tail. What is the name of this coat colour?


answer Answer: chestnut

Interesting Information:
The chestnut colouring is a recessive trait. That means that a horse can only be chestnut if it receives a copy of the chestnut gene from each of its parents. In addition, if two chestnut horses are bred to each other, their offspring will also be chestnut. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
bay, grey, tobiano

23. Which breed of cat is famous for not having a tail?


answer Answer: Manx

Interesting Information:
Originally bred on the Isle of Man, some Manx cats have a very short stub of a tail, but the majority are completely without a tail. They are a popular breed with farmers in particular, as they are expert rodent hunters! Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Persian, Siamese, Bengalese

24. What type of creatures would be of interest to an apiarist?


answer Answer: Bees

Interesting Information:
An apiarist is the "posh" name for a bee-keeper, or someone with an interest in bees. Bees are welcomed by gardeners, as they help to pollinate flowers, but if you want to harvest their honey, it's best to wear protective clothing in case they're in a bad mood! Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Apes, Ants, Birds

25. Because of the requirements of pumping blood to its brain, which animal has the highest blood pressure of any living animal?


answer Answer: Giraffe

Interesting Information:
Standing between 14 feet for a female and 18 feet for a male, the giraffes' massive long necks require a long journey for blood to be pumped from the heart to the brain. Their hearts weigh approximately 22 pounds and must generate almost twice the blood pressure of other large animals. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Polar Bear, Ostrich, Panther

26. Which species of rattlesnake in the western United States was named for the geometric pattern on its skin?


answer Answer: Diamondback Rattlesnake

Interesting Information:
Any bite from a rattlesnake can be fatal. The most dangerous species of rattlesnake in the U.S. is the Mojave rattlesnake and the least toxic rattlesnake is the sidewinder. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Mojave Rattlesnake, Sidewinder Rattlesnake, Speckled Rattlesnake

27. Which bird, native to Papua New Guinea and North Eastern Australia, is capable of causing serious harm to a human by attacking with its feet?


answer Answer: Cassowary

Interesting Information:
The Cassowary is flightless and is the third largest bird after the Ostrich and the Emu. It is extremely shy and melts into the undergrowth with any hint of human approach. However, it has claws on its three toes and if challenged by a human the bird advances, rears into the air and the central toe is aimed at the gut. Not nice if it strikes successfully. Difficulty: Hard.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Butcher bird, Bower bird, Budgerigar

28. Bucephalus. Clever Hans. Comanche. These are three of the most famous animals in history. What kind of animal were they?


answer Answer: Horses

Interesting Information:
Bucephalus belonged to Alexander. Clever Hans was a horse who could supposedly count. Comanche survived the battle of Little Big Horn and is one of only two horses to be buried with full military honors. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Dogs, Cats, Three-toed Sloths

29. Which animal has species called howler, spider, and woolly?


answer Answer: monkey

Interesting Information:
Howler, spider, and woolly are all species of New World monkeys native to Central and South America. They are part of the Atelidae family, which contains 24 species. By contrast, the Old World monkeys, Cercopithecidae, contains 135 species. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
squirrel, wild dog, weasel

30. What are known as "ships of the desert"?


answer Answer: Camels

Interesting Information:
They are the only animals that can survive long enough without food and water to make exhausting journeys across the hot dry deserts. Generally speaking, these animals are smelly and bad-tempered. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Elephants, Yaks, Leopards

31. Which white animal's scientific name is Ursus maritimus?


answer Answer: Polar bear

Interesting Information:
The scientific name literally means "maritime bear". The English explorer Constantine John Phipps was the first person to give the polar bear a separate species name, and chose 'Ursus maritimus' based on the large amount of time the polar bear spends in the water. In the Inuit language, a polar bear is called a nanook. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Siberian tiger, Great white shark, White elephant

32. Newts, salamanders and frogs are all types of?


answer Answer: Amphibians

Interesting Information:
Amphibians are an interesting group of animals that have many unique lifestyles.
Some live partly in and out of water, some are purely terrestrial, and some live their entire lives submerged breathing with gills. All need some degree of moisture to survive however! No desert dwellers they! Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Amphipods, Ambidextrous, Arthropods

33. What is an orca also known as?


answer Answer: Killer whale

Interesting Information:
Killer whales are the largest members of the oceanic dolphin family. They are found in all of the world's oceans and in most of the seas. They are sometimes known as the blackfish or seawolf. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Bottlenose dolphin, Narwhal, Porpoise

34. What is the only species of venomous snake native to the United Kingdom?


answer Answer: Adder

Interesting Information:
The adder is a shy and timid snake and bites usually occur when it is accidentally disturbed or stepped on. Under UK law it is illegal to kill, injure, harm or sell adders. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Grass viper, Python, Pit viper

35. Which name for a common farm animal can also be used to describe a female walrus?


answer Answer: Cow

Interesting Information:
Walruses are found in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Male walruses have been known to weigh up to 2000 kg. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Mare, Sow, Hen
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