Do They Really Exist? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Real Animal

Elephant seals (genus Mirounga) are enormous marine mammals, with males weighing several tons. They are named for the males' trunk-like noses, used for vocal calls during mating season. These seals spend most of their lives at sea, diving deep to hunt fish and squid, but come ashore in large groups to breed. Northern elephant seals live along the Pacific coast of North America, while southern elephant seals inhabit sub-Antarctic islands and southern oceans.

Answer: Real Animal

The mouse-deer, or Indian spotted chevrotain (Moschiola indica), is a tiny, deer-like animal about the size of a rabbit. It lives in dense forests and scrublands of India and Sri Lanka, is mostly nocturnal, and feeds on fallen fruit and leaves. Unlike true deer, it has no antlers, but males have small tusk-like teeth.

Answer: Real Animal

Kangaroo rats (genus Dipodomys) are small rodents native to the deserts and dry grasslands of western North America. They move by hopping on their hind legs, much like a kangaroo, and store seeds in cheek pouches. Adapted to arid environments, they rarely drink water, getting moisture from their food instead.

Answer: Real Animal

The turtle frog (Myobatrachus gouldii) is a stocky, burrowing frog found in sandy soils of southwestern Australia. It digs head-first into the ground and lays eggs underground, where they develop directly into froglets. Its diet consists mainly of termites, and its unusual shape gives it a turtle-like appearance.

Answer: Real Animal

Wolf spiders (family Lycosidae) are active hunters that do not spin webs. They have excellent eyesight and chase down prey on the ground. Females carry their egg sacs and even their young on their backs. These spiders are found in a wide range of habitats worldwide, from grasslands and forests to deserts, often living in burrows or under leaf litter.

Answer: Fake Animal

The owlbear is a classic creature from fantasy role-playing games, although it first appeared in "Dungeons & Dragons" in 1975, created by Gary Gygax. It combines the body of a bear with the head and feathers of an owl, creating a fearsome predator with brute strength and keen senses. Unlike real bears or owls, this hybrid is purely mythical, often depicted as aggressive and territorial in deep forests.

Answer: Fake Animal

Wolfbat sounds like a nocturnal predator blending traits of wolves and bats. While wolves roam the ground and bats take to the skies, this imagined creature merges both - suggesting a winged mammal with sharp fangs and pack instincts. It evokes gothic or superhero vibes, similar to names used in comics, but no real species exists with such a combination.

Answer: Fake Animal

The tiger fox suggests a sleek, cunning hunter with the stripes and power of a tiger and the agility of a fox. While foxes and tigers share carnivorous traits, they belong to very different families in reality.

Answer: Fake Animal

In J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil," the turtle-fish (also called Fastitocalon or Fell Turtle) appears in the Hobbit poem "Fastitocalon." These legendary sea monsters masquerade as islands, luring sailors to rest on their backs before diving and drowning them. Though resembling gigantic turtles with durable shells and moss-covered surfaces, they're mythical creatures within Middle-earth's folklore, and not real reptiles.

Answer: Fake Animal

While the snake hawk is a creation of my imagination, it draws inspiration from the similarly-named (and very real) variety of snake eagles (subfamily Circaetinae), which specialize in hunting snakes and other reptiles.