By Sea, Land, and Air We Prosper Quiz

Answer: Sandhill crane

Until recently the sandhill crane was filed under the binomial name 'Grus canadensis,' but in 2010 it was reclassified in the 'Antigone' genus, which was a resurrected genus originally established in 1853 by German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach.

When the sandhill crane was first taxonomically described, it was by English naturalist George Edwards in his 1750 publication "A Natural History of Uncommon Birds." Carl Linnaeus (again) included it in his 1758 10th edition "Systema Naturae," assigning the binomial name Ardea canadensis. It was reassigned to Grus canadensis shortly afterwards by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760.

All that to say, the sandhill crane is a large species of crane that has a range extending across North America and even into Siberia across the Bering Strait, with winters spent in large flocks in southern regions. It is grey in colour, and, like most wading birds, likes to hang out at the edges of large bodies of water.

Answer: North American golden eagle

Aquila chrysaetos canadensis is one of six subspecies of Aquila chrysaetos (golden eagle) found around the world in the northern hemisphere. The canadensis subspecies ranges across North America (hence the name) from Alaska down to the northern part of Mexico, largely along the western part of the associated countries, although the birds do extend further east for breeding purposes. It has breeding areas in nearly every province of Canada!

The North American golden eagle is mostly dark brown with rusty/reddish feathers around the neck and speckled through the wings, which have an average wingspan of 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in). As distinctive and recognizable as this eagle is in North America, it has a special place in the hearts of Mexicans, as it adorns their national flag (a reference to the legend of an eagle sitting on a cactus while devouring a serpent, signaling where the Aztecs were to build Tenochtitlan).

Answer: Canada goose

The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is probably one of the most recognizable animals associated with Canada, with its black head and neck with white cheeks and its brown body. These large geese range across North America, spending their summers mostly in Canada and the northern United States, and wintering to the south.

Canada geese have adapted well to humans and have no difficulty congregating where there is open water - including inside of cities. For this reason, they have come to be seen as a pest species in some areas, as they leave a mess behind and can damage crops in their foraging. They can also be very noisy and aggressive to other animals and people due to territorial behaviour.

Answer: Canada warbler

The Canada warbler (Cardellina canadensis) was first described by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760, with its binomial name (originally Muscicapa canadensis) provided by Carl Linneus in 1766. In 1850, naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte introduced the genus Cardellina for the Canada warbler, along with four other species.

Canada warblers have two distinct areas of habitation, with their winters spent in northern South America, and the breeding season spent in Canada and the northeastern United States. It is estimated that 82% of the entire species population resides in Canada during this time. In Canada, the range extends through the boreal forest, extending from the Yukon in the northwest, to Nova Scotia in the southeast.

They have yellow bellies and brown backs, and have earned the nickname 'necklaced warblers' due to a ring of darker feathers across the upper chest.

Answer: North American beaver

The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is also known by the names American beaver and Canadian beaver, essentially dependent upon where they are congregated. This big rodent was first described scientifically by Heinrich Kuhl in his 1820 publication "Beiträge zur Zoologie und vergleichenden Anatomie", which translates as "Contributions to Zoology and Comparative Anatomy". Of course, the beaver was already well-known prior to 1820 and it was the cornerstone of the North American fur trade during colonial times.

The fur trade was the primary industry in British North America for a long time, resulting in the near extirpation of the species. Where once the population was estimated at 200 million, but by the end of the 19th century, there were fears that the species was doomed to extinction. Thankfully, the course of history changed, and this keystone species has survived, and has grown to the tens of millions again.

The North American beaver was so integral to Canada's development that it was recognized as an emblem of Canada in the 1975 National Symbol of Canada Act.

Answer: Elk / wapiti

Cervus canadensis was originally recognized as a relative of the European red deer by early explorers, but colloquially were referred to as elks, in reference to their size (elk is another name for moose). In spite of the fact that Cervus canadensis is, in fact, a species of deer (and not a moose), the elk name stuck.

Regardless of the confusion of colonial naming practices, the (more accurate) name 'wapiti,' comes from the Shawnee and Cree word waapiti, which translates as 'white rump.' Elk/wapiti can be found throughout the United States and Canada, especially in mountainous regions where they migrate to higher elevations in the spring.

Answer: North American river otter

The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is also known as the Northern river otter, Canadian otter, and a few other options, besides. Originally described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1777 as Lutra canadensis, in was updated in recent years (2008) to the current genus, along with all 'New World' otters (three other species).

The North American river otter, as the name implies, is endemic to North America, but ranges right across the continent. Unfortunately, the species is in a continual decline, despite some actions being taken to limit hunting or farming them. They are very susceptible to changes in their environment due to human encroachment, such as polluted waterways.

Answer: Bighorn sheep

Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is one of only two mountain sheep species on the North American continent, with the different subspecies divided into two main types - desert and mountain.

The species was originally described in 1804 by English botanist and zoologist George Kearsley Shaw. As the name suggests, bighorn sheep are known for their large, curving horns, specifically those of the males (rams). While the females (ewes) do also bear horns, they are not nearly as pronounced. The range of the species is pretty much limited to the mountainous regions of the western part of North America (the mountain sheep), or to the hot desert ecosystems of the Southwestern United States and Mexico (the desert sheep).

Answer: Canada jay

The Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis) has a few other names, including grey jay, camp robber, and whiskey jack. It is a non-migratory bird that lives in boreal forest regions in Canada as far north as the tree line, and as far south (along the mountains) to Arizona and New Mexico. Grey jay is an appropriate name for the Canada jay, as it sports various shades of grey, lighter on the underside and darker on the back, with a grey-white head and dark nape.

The Canada jay was first described by French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760, and then given its binomial name by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1766, originally as Corvus canadensis. In 1831 it was again reclassified by English ornithologist William John Swainson, who named it Dysornithia brachyrhyncha. Its final (most recent, anyways) change came in 1838 when French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte assigned the name Perisoreus canadensis.

Answer: Sauger

Our only fish on the list, the sauger (Sander canadensis) is a perciform fish that is closely related to the walleye. But where walleye prefer lakes, saugers seem to like rivers more. They can be found east of the Appalachians through most of mainland U.S. and into southern Canada.

They are migratory fish, swimming upstream between March and May to spawn, then back downriver between April and July (depending on when they went upstream). The typical sauger is 300 to 400 g (11-14 oz) in weight.