Animal Identity Crisis Trivia Quiz

Answer: swordfish

The swordfish is a migratory, predatory fish with a long flat bill that feeds on bluefish and mackerel, along with squid and octopi which are NOT fish but invertebrates. Swordfish can often be found in the ocean or on the walls of seafood restaurants.

As for the other choices, a crayfish is a crustacean; a starfish is an echinoderm and a jellyfish is a cnidarian. Do you think anyone has told Spongebob about this?

Answer: tapeworm

Worms are technically decomposers. There are lots and lots of worms, e.g., tapeworms, flatworms and flukes which have flat bodies and eyes in the front; like the tapeworm, some are parasites. Roundworms, threadworms and hookworms form a second group and segmented worms form a third group. On the other hand, glowworms are insect larvae that have bio-luminescence, i.e, they glow; mealworms are the larvae of a darkling beetle, and shipworms are really clams which use their shells to drill into driftwood or wooden ships (the termites of the sea world). Now, let's go have some lunch!

Answer: It was originally placed in the raccoon family

Despite its name, the red panda is not really a panda and is taxonomically difficult to classify. It is a small, arboreal mammal which closely resembles a raccoon and is considered an omnivore in that its diet may contain insects, lizards, birds and plants; however, they mostly feed on bamboo.

The habitat of the red panda is in the eastern Himalayas and south-western China, and they have been classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as vulnerable, with a wild population of less than 10,000 mature animals.

Answer: dolphin

The killer whale, also known as orca, is the largest predator in the dolphin family. They are classified as mammals and they feed on other marine mammals such as seals and whales, and also on fish. They are considered apex predators, i.e., lacking natural predators, and are not usually considered a threat to humans, although captive orcas have been known to injure or kill their handlers at marine theme parks (but it was probably accidental and not on 'porpoise').

Answer: electric eel

The electric eel may be electric; however, it is not an eel at all but, rather, a knifefish, closely related to the catfish. This fish is the only species in its genus i.e., E. electricus, and can generate up to 860 volts - shocking, eh?! It has a long, cylindrical body, grows to as large as 6 ft 7 in/2 meters and can weigh up to 44 pounds/20 kg, without scales (get it?).

They inhabit the fresh waters of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in South America, often living on the muddy bottoms of calm or stagnant waters.

Answer: alligator

The alligator name comes from the Spanish 'El Lagarto', which means 'lizard'. An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator and, while all alligators are crocodiles, not all crocodiles are alligators (confused?). There are two living species, the American alligator and the Chinese alligator; I wonder if they speak the same language? Anyway, the difference between the 'croc' and the alligator is that the alligator has a 'U' shaped, rounded nose while the crocodile's snout is longer and more 'V' shaped, but I don't suggest you get close enough to either one to discern the difference.

Answer: brown bear

Strangely enough (in this quiz), the brown bear is exactly what it is purported to be, a brown bear, unlike the koala which is not a bear at all, but a marsupial! This mammal can be found living in Alaska, western Canada and parts of Washington, Montana and Wyoming.

They possess thick hair, sharp claws, are carnivorous and can stand on two legs. Of the other choices, a meerkat does not live around meers (Dutch for 'lake'), nor is it a cat but, rather, belongs to the mongoose family; a horny toad is not a toad but a lizard (although I cannot attest to its sexual predisposition), and the mountain chicken is actually a frog.

Answer: bats

Did I trick you? Flying foxes are, in fact, the largest bats in the world; they are also known as fruit bats, but that would have made it too easy. They can be found in Australia and possess a wing span of up to three feet. In the daytime they live in camps (but without the counselors) and they hang upside down in large trees.

In the nighttime they forage for food, preferring nectar pollen and rain forest fruits and, unlike vampire bats, they do not suck blood! If it's bloodsuckers you want, get a leech or speak with a politician.

Answer: where they live

The major difference between the three reptiles is more where they live than their appearance, breeding or diet. In the United States, freshwater, marine and most land Testudines (their scientific name) are called turtles, the most ancient of all living reptiles, and they live primarily in a marine environment.

The species of Testudine which resides in marshes and river inlets are called terrapins (and for you sports fans, Maryland). Totally terrestrial Testudines are tortoises (say THAT quickly 3 times); that is why the fable is called "The Tortoise and the Hare" and not "The Terrapin or Turtle and the Hare", because their race takes place on land! Turtles live in marine environments.

Answer: A sperm whale is NOT a whale

If you thought a seahorse was a horse, you probably shouldn't have played this quiz! A seahorse is a fish, a guinea pig is a rodent and a North American mountain goat does not belong to the genus Capra that includes all other goats; it belongs to the family Bovidae which includes antelopes, gazelles and cattle.

But the good old sperm whale is everything it is cracked up to be: it is the largest of the toothed whales; it is, sadly, the only living member of the genus 'Physeter', and the head of the whale contains a liquid wax called 'spermaceti' which is used in oil lamps, lubricants and candles.