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Quiz about Have I Got Gnus for You
Quiz about Have I Got Gnus for You

Have I Got Gnus for You Trivia Quiz


As Flanders and Swann sang, the gnu is 'the gnicest work of gnature', but how much do you know about the animal?

A multiple-choice quiz by rossian. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
rossian
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
355,927
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
1135
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 75 (7/10), Luckycharm60 (10/10), Rizeeve (5/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Which of these is an alternative name for the gnu? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The gnu is native to which continent? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The gnu is a member of which animal family? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. There are two species of gnu - the white-tailed and the brindled. They are also known by which two colours? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Which gnus have horns? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. When pronouncing the name, the letter 'g' in gnu is always silent.


Question 7 of 10
7. Between 1950 and the end of the twentieth century, what happened to the gnu population? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The flesh of the gnu is a major source of which dried meat product? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Which of these is NOT a recognised predator of the gnu? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Based on their diet, gnus are classed as which of these? Hint



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which of these is an alternative name for the gnu?

Answer: Wildebeest

All the animals listed are antelopes. The name of wildebeest comes from the Dutch settlers, and means exactly what it seems to in English - wild beast. The native name given to the animal by the ethnic group of Khoikhoi was gnou, from which we derive its other common name.
2. The gnu is native to which continent?

Answer: Africa

The gnu is native to Africa, and can be found in open grasslands, or savannah, from the southern region of Kenya to the northern part of South Africa. Large herds are found in the national parks and reserves in Africa, including the Serengeti in Tanzania, the Masai Mara in Kenya, and the Liuwa Plain in Zambia.
3. The gnu is a member of which animal family?

Answer: Bovidae

The bovids include buffalos, gazelles, goats, sheep and cattle as well as the antelopes, of which the gnu is one. They have cloven hooves, and are ruminants, with four chambered stomachs enabling them to digest their food more efficiently. The gnu is often described as a combination of other animals, having the head of an ox, the horns of a buffalo and the mane and hindquarters of a horse. Equidae includes horses, Felidae is the cat family and Cervids are deer.
4. There are two species of gnu - the white-tailed and the brindled. They are also known by which two colours?

Answer: Black and blue

The white-tailed gnu is also known as the black gnu, and the brindled gnu is the blue variety. The black gnu is smaller and of lighter build than its blue cousin. The milk produced by the females is also different, with black gnus containing more protein.

They also differ in colour with the black gnu having a brownish body and a white tail, hence its other name. The blue gnu is usually dark grey, with stripes which give it its alternative name of brindled.
5. Which gnus have horns?

Answer: Both male and female

The horns of the male are much bigger than those of the female, and they also differ between the two species of gnu. The white-tailed gnu horns curve forward, while the brindled gnu has horns which curve to the side.
6. When pronouncing the name, the letter 'g' in gnu is always silent.

Answer: False

The name can be said with the 'g' sounded, as Flanders and Swann did with such comic effect, or spoken as 'new'. The derivation of the name is unclear, with some sources saying that it comes from the Khoikhoi word for black, while others suggest that it comes from the noise made by the animal when alarmed.
7. Between 1950 and the end of the twentieth century, what happened to the gnu population?

Answer: A big increase

Several websites, notably gnuworld.co.za, quote the total population in 1950 as around 100,000, increasing to 1.5 million. Around 500,000 calves are born each year, mostly in a two or three week period at the start of the rainy season. The calves can run with the herd within a few minutes of birth, but mortality is high.
8. The flesh of the gnu is a major source of which dried meat product?

Answer: Biltong

Biltong originated with the Dutch settlers in southern Africa, with the name coming from the Dutch words for 'rump' and 'strip' (or 'tongue'). Vinegar, salt, spices and herbs were applied to the pieces of meat, before drying, to provide a source of food. Nowadays, biltong is readily available and is something of a delicacy.

The other options are all dried meats from around the world. Pemmican originated with native Americans, and Borts is from Mongolia. Cecina is a Spanish dried meat.
9. Which of these is NOT a recognised predator of the gnu?

Answer: Alligator

The large herds of gnu are an excellent source of food for many predators, with lions being the major source of danger. During migration, the herds are followed by lions looking for a young, or weak, member to cut out. Crocodiles kill many gnus as they cross rivers looking for fresh pastures, with hyenas, cheetahs, wild dogs and vultures also feeding on them. Alligators are not found in the same continent.
10. Based on their diet, gnus are classed as which of these?

Answer: Herbivores

Gnus are grass eaters, and prefer short grass. One of the reasons they form groups with zebras is that the zebra will eat long grass, leaving the gnus to clear up the shorter stalks which are their preference. During migration, large herds of gnus, zebras and other antelopes cover large distances looking for fresh grass, creating one of the most dramatic sights in the animal world.
Source: Author rossian

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Tizzabelle before going online.
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