Geographical Scientific Names Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scomber japonicus

The chub mackerel's scientific name contains an allusion to Japan, likely due to its proximity to the country, but it is fairly common across the northern Pacific Ocean and fished off the coast of the USA, too. Chub mackerels utilise the way sunlight reflects off their scales in order to avoid predators - by swimming close to the surface of the water, they can blend in much better with the sunlight reflecting off the water.

Answer: Vulpes bengalensis

The Bengal fox can be found south of the Himalayas, most commonly in India and the surrounding regions. Like many other fox species, the Bengal fox is not nocturnal but active mostly at dawn or dusk; during the day, they can be found sheltering from the sun in scrubland or in dens. They are omnivorous and will tend to snack on wild fruit, insects and small rodents.

Answer: Chalcophaps indica

The common emerald dove is (rather aptly) common across the Indian subcontinent and the southeast, with its name referring to the green plumage on its wings. Several subspecies exist, found chiefly on islands, including Chalcophaps indica robinsoni (found on Sri Lanka) and Chalcophaps indica natalis (native to Christmas Island and also known as the Christmas emerald dove).

Answer: Castor canadensis

Despite its scientific name referring specifically to Canada, the North American beaver is also found in the USA and is the largest rodent on the continent. As a semiaquatic mammal, the beaver is at home both in and out of the water and tends to make its homes in or across small bodies of water.

The familiar sight of a beaver dam serves not to provide them with a supply of fish (as beavers are herbivores) but to flood the surrounding land and make getting tree bark and other vegetation easier and safer, in addition to providing protection from predators and the elements.

Answer: Corythornis madagascariensis

Found only on Madagascar, the Madagascan pygmy kingfisher is notable for its bright orange and white plumage as well as its diminutiveness. It prefers the more temperate climes of this African island, so will mostly be found across the northern regions. During mating season, the kingfisher makes its nest inside a mound of earth, accessible only through a longish tunnel which protects the eggs from predators.

Answer: Aedes aegypti

Mosquitoes have long been despised for being one of the biggest killers of humans, and Aedes aegypti has even been given the common name the yellow fever mosquito, due to its proclivity to spread yellow fever and other diseases. Its scientific name might suggest a connection to Egypt, but this species of mosquito is more often found in central southern Africa, northern South America, as well as the Indian subcontinent.

As is typical of mosquitoes, it's the female of the species that bites and spreads disease, so some methods of curbing mosquito numbers involve genetically modifying the males to prevent them from producing offspring.

Answer: Rattus norvegicus

The brown rat, with its many alternative names, is most likely to be the rat you see scuttling along the back alleys or sewers of your city. There is no clear evidence that Rattus norvegicus originated in Norway - research and hypothesis instead suggests an origin closer to China.

Despite this, there's no doubt that this is one of the most widespread species in the world, though they aren't completely considered vermin - the fancy rat subspecies is the domesticated version of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus domestica) and popular as a pet in many countries.

Answer: Sialia mexicana

Although its name refers to Mexico, the western bluebird is also encountered in the western states of the USA. Members of the species tend to face stiff competition from other nesting birds when finding suitable nesting areas. As such, western bluebirds rely on humans to provide nesting boxes with small openings (to dissuade larger birds) or birds with bigger or stronger beaks, such as woodpeckers, to have created suitable cavities in trees.

Answer: Tenodera sinensis

The Chinese mantis is native to east Asia, but is also found in the USA due to an accidential introduction in the late nineteenth century. These mantises like to feast on larger insects, including cockroaches and grasshoppers, and even other mantids (though this is typical of most mantids anyway).

The Chinese mantis is a popular pet and takes a relatively short amount of time to become accustomed to humans and being handled, though, due to its innate cannibalistic tendencies, is best off on its own.

Answer: Halcyon senegalensis

The woodland kingfisher is recognised by its white breast, blue wing feathers and red beak, and migrates between southern and central Africa. Although its name suggests a diet that includes fish, woodland kingfishers are rarely found near water, preferring to snack on small insects and frogs. Fiercely protective, they have no problem swooping down and fighting away those who they perceive as threats - their beak is sufficiently large and pointy enough to have a good go.