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Quiz about 200 Years of Extinctions
Quiz about 200 Years of Extinctions

200 Years of Extinctions Trivia Quiz


Extinction is a natural occurrence on our planet. Unfortunately, human beings have been responsible either directly or indirectly for extinctions skyrocketing in the past 200 years. Let's explore some unique animals that will grace this planet no more.

A multiple-choice quiz by dcpddc478. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
dcpddc478
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
318,655
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
9 / 15
Plays
1814
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 184 (5/15), quizzer74 (13/15), Guest 46 (5/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. In 1852 the last known great auk was spotted in Newfoundland, Canada. It has not been seen since. What kind of animal was the great auk? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. The Cuban red macaw was last seen in 1864 near the Zapata Swamp on Cuba. This brilliant bird died out for what common reason related to humans? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. Which of the following is a type of zebra, native to South Africa that became extinct in 1883? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. The last Atlas bear was killed in the 1870's in the Rif Mountains. It was the only indigenous bear to which continent? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. When an animal is only found on only one island, it is not hard to cause its extinction. The warrah was the only land mammal native to which group of southern Atlantic islands? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. The last Syrian wild ass died in 1928 in the Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. Once plentiful, what human activity had a direct connection to the extinction of this wild equine? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. The last Honshu wolf died in 1905. Besides human predation because it preyed on farm animals, what was the other major cause for the extinction of this unusual animal? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. The last tarpan died in captivity in 1909. Native to Russia and parts of Europe, what kind of animal was a tarpan? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. The last Schomburgk's deer was shot in 1932 by a drunk who did not know what he had just killed. What country was the home to these beautiful animals? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. The last pink-headed duck was seen in the 1950's. Native to the Indian sub-continent, this duck became extinct because of what western fashion? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. Though it is usually thought of as a cold climate animal, the Monachus tropicalis was the only type of what kind of animal to live in the Caribbean Sea? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. The Middle East has had extinction levels rise at an alarming rate. The hunt for which naturally occurring commodity has caused these rapid rates of extinction? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve was home to a very unique but now extinct toad. The name of the toad was the same as its color. What was this vibrant amphibian called?
Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. The Pyrenean ibex once roamed the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain and France. Declared extinct in 2000, what distinction does this animal hold? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. In 2007 the baiji was declared extinct. Endemic to China, what kind of animal was the baiji? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 23 2024 : Guest 184: 5/15
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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In 1852 the last known great auk was spotted in Newfoundland, Canada. It has not been seen since. What kind of animal was the great auk?

Answer: bird

The great auk was a flightless bird indigenous to the north Atlantic areas of Canada, Greenland, Ireland and Great Britain. The great auk bore a strong resemblance to penguins. They were about 2 1/2 ft tall and about 10 lbs. They were black and white, had short legs, and were flightless.

They did possess a very strong beak. Until man came along their only predators were orcas, walruses and some of the larger birds of prey. Their demise was brought about by over hunting for food and for their down which was used to stuff pillows.

The very last great auks were found on Edley Island near Iceland. This colony of about 50 was slaughtered as soon as they were found and their eggs taken as collectors' items. These eggs can still be seen in museums throughout the world.
2. The Cuban red macaw was last seen in 1864 near the Zapata Swamp on Cuba. This brilliant bird died out for what common reason related to humans?

Answer: deforestation

The main reason for the extinction of this very colorful bird was deforestation. When trees were cut down so that the land could be farmed, the nests were destroyed and their food disappeared. The practice of stealing chicks from nests to sell as pets was also responsible for their extinction. Unlike most birds, both males and females were brightly colored with a bright red head, a patch of orange on the back of the neck with blue and green wings.

A veritable flying rainbow!
3. Which of the following is a type of zebra, native to South Africa that became extinct in 1883?

Answer: quagga

The last surviving quagga died at the Artis Magistra Zoo in Amsterdam on August 12, 1883. The quagga was a very unique zebra in that it was striped only on the front half of its body and solid colored on its back. It was systematically killed to preserve grassland for cattle and other domesticated animals.

It was also hunted for its meat and it skin. Because of the great numbers of zebras on the continent many of the local tribes associate fertility with the zebra and the wearing of its hide was believed to help with having many healthy children.

The quagga was the first extinct animal to have its DNA studied. DNA has been extracted with hopes that someday we may be able to bring this animal back.
4. The last Atlas bear was killed in the 1870's in the Rif Mountains. It was the only indigenous bear to which continent?

Answer: Africa

The Atlas bear roamed about northern Africa from Libya to Tunisia and Morocco. They were often captured and used by the Romans in a punishment in which the "guilty" were thrown to wild animals. These animals were hunted into extinction by big game hunters.

They did not need the meat, hide or bones of the animal. When the numbers had dwindled to near extinction, museums became involved in an attempt to get one of the last surviving bears for their collections. This shy animal is often listed as an herbivore, and was a solitary creature that for the most part left humans and their livestock alone.

The extinction of the Atlas bear is a true example of how ruthless and unsympathetic the human species can be.
5. When an animal is only found on only one island, it is not hard to cause its extinction. The warrah was the only land mammal native to which group of southern Atlantic islands?

Answer: The Falkland Islands

The warrah or Falkland Islands wolf became extinct in 1876. It was thought to be a threat to the sheep being brought to the island by European farmers and was methodically killed off. Because the warrah was insular it had no fear of humans. A man could hold out a piece of meat and the warrah would happily come over for free food, only to meet its demise by being beaten to death with a stick. How it came to live on an island that had no rodents or other mammals has always been a puzzle. How did it get to this island? It subsisted on small birds and scavenged the beach.

It took only 50 years for European settlers to completely decimate this species.
6. The last Syrian wild ass died in 1928 in the Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. Once plentiful, what human activity had a direct connection to the extinction of this wild equine?

Answer: World War I

The population of the Syrian wild ass completely collapsed during WWI. Once plentiful in the Middle East it never recovered from the onslaught of soldiers fighting in the area. They killed the wild ass, destroyed its food sources, polluted the area, and brought disease. Within 10 years of the war the Syrian wild ass was extinct.

This animal was pictured in ancient Mesopotamian art and large herds once roamed the area.
7. The last Honshu wolf died in 1905. Besides human predation because it preyed on farm animals, what was the other major cause for the extinction of this unusual animal?

Answer: rabies

The Honshu wolf, sometimes called the Japanese wolf died in large numbers from rabies brought to the Japanese islands by European dogs imported to guard the blossoming cattle trade. The rabies caused the naturally shy animal to become aggressive and farmers began killing them off in large numbers. Strychnine-poisoned baits were commonly used and were very effective. If the poison did not kill the animal outright, it usually rendered them infertile.

This was the smallest of the wolf family possibly due to a process called allopatric speciation or island dwarfing.
8. The last tarpan died in captivity in 1909. Native to Russia and parts of Europe, what kind of animal was a tarpan?

Answer: wild horse

The tarpan was a prehistoric wild horse that managed to survive until the 20th century. They are depicted in cave drawings in both France and Spain. The last known wild mare was killed during an attempt to capture her. These equines were very stocky and light brown in color.

They were never successfully domesticated. Extensive back-breeding has been attempted trying to resurrect the tarpan. And although they have bred some animals with a resemblance both genetically and physically, the tarpan is gone and will never run wild again.
9. The last Schomburgk's deer was shot in 1932 by a drunk who did not know what he had just killed. What country was the home to these beautiful animals?

Answer: Thailand

Schomburgk's deer were found in Thailand. They were first described in 1863 and were extinct by 1938. They roamed in small groups consisting of 1 male with his harem or 3-4 females, with their young. Due to river flooding they were often trapped on small hills that were still above water and made for very easy hunting by hungry peasants. Further degradation of their habitat occurred when the areas were turned into rice paddies.

The males had beautiful racks that could be 35 inches long and contain as many as 30 points. Only males had antlers. Only one stuffed specimen remains for study in the Natural History Museum in Paris.
10. The last pink-headed duck was seen in the 1950's. Native to the Indian sub-continent, this duck became extinct because of what western fashion?

Answer: feathered hats

Women's hats were in style for hundreds of years. Many of the most colorful or beautifully feathered birds were driven to extinction in a hunt for their feathers for adornment of these hats. Although not considered good to eat, hunters would kill the bird just for the sake of the hunt. Rare to begin with, it did not take much predation by man to cause extinction of this distinctive bird.
11. Though it is usually thought of as a cold climate animal, the Monachus tropicalis was the only type of what kind of animal to live in the Caribbean Sea?

Answer: seal

Monachus tropicalis was the scientific name for the Caribbean monk seal. This gentle creature was the only seal to live in the Caribbean and it was hunted to extinction by European settlers for its oil; the meat was usually discarded as was the skin. In northern climates the seal meat and seal skin were as valuable as the oil. Last seen in the 1950's, this placid animal had no fear of man and was thus easy kill.

It was also crowded out of all Caribbean islands once European settlers arrived. Any available food for the seal was netted and eaten by hungry settlers, with no thoughts of the future.
12. The Middle East has had extinction levels rise at an alarming rate. The hunt for which naturally occurring commodity has caused these rapid rates of extinction?

Answer: oil

The hunt for oil has caused the demise of at least 4 distinct types of gazelle, numerous desert dwelling rodents, and at least 8 species of birds. Loss of habitat, loss of prey food, and pollution has all played a part. Areas considered uninhabitable by humans are now being inhabited and the local animals have never developed fear of humans, and/or live in a highly localized niche of the food chain. Living in small populations with low birth rates, however stable, makes a species vulnerable to deliberate and accidental extinction.
13. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve was home to a very unique but now extinct toad. The name of the toad was the same as its color. What was this vibrant amphibian called?

Answer: the golden toad

The golden toad lived in high-altitude rain forests near Montverde, Costa Rica. Its demise was due to introduced species and global warming. Introduced species have had terrible effects on many islands and on the continent of Australia. The introduced species upset the food chain and bring in disease that endemic species have no protection from.

This bright golden orange toad lived in a small area, had a very high ratio of male toads to female toads, and was very vulnerable to the El Nino effect. First described in 1966 the toad was declared extinct by 1989. Very few photos exist.
14. The Pyrenean ibex once roamed the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain and France. Declared extinct in 2000, what distinction does this animal hold?

Answer: the first extinct animal to be cloned

The Pyrenean ibex holds the distinction of being the first extinct animal to be cloned. Success only lasted 7 minutes. A cloned kid was born in 2009 but died after 7 minutes due to lung failure. With advances in DNA and cloning it is possible that someday in the future some species may be brought back from the edge of extinction. Scientist have never been sure what caused this ibex to go extinct and many possible explanations have been put forward.

But disease and infection played a role. This beautiful mountain goat may someday climb the mountains of Europe again, but it is doubtful that a full breeding colony could ever be recreated.
15. In 2007 the baiji was declared extinct. Endemic to China, what kind of animal was the baiji?

Answer: a river dolphin

The baiji is a freshwater river dolphin found in the Yangtze River in China. Declared extinct in 2007 by the ICUN red list, rumors have been put forth that one or two may possibly exist. The baiji became extinct when industrialization set in. More boats with propellers were in the waters causing some deaths.

But by far the largest cause of the baiji's demise was getting caught in fishing nets. They are the first aquatic mammal to become extinct since the 1950's. It is always natural to get claims from someone that thinks they saw an extinct animal.

This is almost always, and I emphasize almost, misidentification or wishful thinking.
Source: Author dcpddc478

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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