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Quiz about Know Your North American Carnivores
Quiz about Know Your North American Carnivores

Know Your North American Carnivores Quiz


Animals commonly referred to as carnivores are those who are classified within the order of Carnivora on the organizational chart of living things. Carnivora is from Latin words which translate as "to devour flesh", i.e. meat-eating.

A multiple-choice quiz by cowboybluedog. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
366,644
Updated
Mar 28 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
3490
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Rikergj (9/10), blackandgreen (8/10), Guest 174 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Not exclusive to North America yet a carnivore that is easily recognized due to its dog-like appearance. It species name is Canis lupus. Who is this carnivore - the subject of debate and lore? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The male of this species is called a boar and the female is called a sow. A grown boar may weigh over 1500 pounds (almost 700 kilograms), making it one of the largest members of the order Carnivora. Who is this apex predator native to the Arctic regions of North America? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Historically, this big cat has enjoyed a range from southern Canada, throughout the United States, and into Mexico. Who is this feline, so named for a "missing" body part? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This carnivore has more nerve endings in their powerful paws that humans do in their hands. Physical characteristics of its face and its tail make this mammal one of the most easily recognized in the entire animal kingdom. Who is the animal nicknamed "rascal" and/or "bandit"? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Its most common habitat was what gave this carnivore its name. Its numbers were drastically reduced not only due to habitat loss but due to taking it for its prime fur. Who is this member of Mustelidae (weasel) family? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In the wild this carnivore is more prevalent in Alaska and Canada than in the lower forty-eight states (of the United States) due to its habitat requisite of either alpine or arctic environment. This animal is traditionally thought to be Michigan's official state animal since Michigan's nickname includes its name. Which one? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. A carnivore that once was thought to be a very close relative of members of the animals who comprise the "weasel-like" family was given its own separate classification. A unique animal not only due to its appearance but due to its well-known means of defense. Which animal is very well known for its ability to spray a musky odor - up to ten feet - when threatened? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Many characteristics of this carnivore make it unique among animals. If you get a glimpse of their face you should notice two most distinguishing features: both sexes have elongated canine teeth we call tusks and both sexes sport a broad area of Vibrissae or whiskers making them appear to have a moustache. Who is this arctic pinniped? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. A sea lion can correctly be called a seal; a seal can correctly be called a sea lion. They are the same animal and those names can be used interchangeably. True or False?


Question 10 of 10
10. A member of the Canidae family on the organizational chart that has a "dog-like" appearance, this carnivore was considered to be extinct in North America as recently as 1980. Reintroduction programs have had mixed success and as of the early 2000s it was estimated that less than 100 of them were in the wild. Who are these controversial canines? Hint





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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Not exclusive to North America yet a carnivore that is easily recognized due to its dog-like appearance. It species name is Canis lupus. Who is this carnivore - the subject of debate and lore?

Answer: Gray wolf

Very few, if any, animals have been the subject of legend and deliberation more than the gray wolf. They were once often shot on sight due to the assumption by many that the entire species were blood thirsty killers. Seen as a threat to the livestock trade (beginning in the early 1800s), wolves were killed in great numbers - sometimes to collect a bounty. Times and circumstances have changed.

Some attitudes have changed, too. Beginning during the second half of the twentieth century gray wolves were reintroduced into some areas of North America where they had been completely eradicated.
2. The male of this species is called a boar and the female is called a sow. A grown boar may weigh over 1500 pounds (almost 700 kilograms), making it one of the largest members of the order Carnivora. Who is this apex predator native to the Arctic regions of North America?

Answer: Polar bear

Unlike other bear species, polar bears are almost exclusively meat eaters; the majority of their diet is seal meat. Unlike other bears, polar bears (with the exception of pregnant sows) do not require the period of denning in the winter months. Denning is a term used for bears because bears are not true hibernators. Polar bears may be in danger of going extinct due to global warming.

They were the first vertebrate species to be listed by the U.S. Endangered Species Act as threatened by extinction primarily because of global warming.
3. Historically, this big cat has enjoyed a range from southern Canada, throughout the United States, and into Mexico. Who is this feline, so named for a "missing" body part?

Answer: Bobcat

Easily recognized by its bobbed or shortened tail, the bobcat is a member of the lynx family. Its species name is Lynx rufus. While many other large carnivores are facing extinction or, at best, drastic reduction of their numbers in the wild, the bobcat seems to continue to survive.

It is not viewed a huge threat to most of society because its diet primarily consists of other animals that themselves viewed as undesirable, for example, mice, rats, rabbits, etc.
4. This carnivore has more nerve endings in their powerful paws that humans do in their hands. Physical characteristics of its face and its tail make this mammal one of the most easily recognized in the entire animal kingdom. Who is the animal nicknamed "rascal" and/or "bandit"?

Answer: Raccoon

Though classified as carnivores on the organizational chart of living things, raccoons are omnivores. They eat almost anything those sensitive yet powerful paws can find for them. They are fond of water animals like frogs, crayfish, fish and snail. They also eat insects, mice, eggs, fruits and plants.

In cities and suburban areas, raccoons eat mostly garbage and/or food left outside to feed other domestic animals or other wild life. Raccoons have often been observed doing what was thought to be "washing" their food. We have learned this action may not be a matter of cleaning the food, as much as it is simply wetting it to enhance the tactility of the food for those super-sensitive paws.
5. Its most common habitat was what gave this carnivore its name. Its numbers were drastically reduced not only due to habitat loss but due to taking it for its prime fur. Who is this member of Mustelidae (weasel) family?

Answer: Northern river otter

The northern river otters have typically made their homes along river banks and shore lines throughout most of Canada and in certain parts of the United States - on the east coast as far south as the state of Florida. Primarily of nocturnal hunter they exist on a diet of wide variety that includes crabs, turtles, birds and eggs with fish (usually) comprising the largest percentage of their diet. Efforts to reintroduce the river otter must to be carefully planned, it was learned, because river otters are especially vulnerable to the effects of water pollution.
6. In the wild this carnivore is more prevalent in Alaska and Canada than in the lower forty-eight states (of the United States) due to its habitat requisite of either alpine or arctic environment. This animal is traditionally thought to be Michigan's official state animal since Michigan's nickname includes its name. Which one?

Answer: Wolverine

Michigan is called the Wolverine State but its official state animal is white-tailed deer. The wolverine is one of the largest members of the weasel family, Mustelidae. Though often identified as "state animal" the wolverine has rarely been known to live in the wild in Michigan.

It has faced survival challenges of its own. Once hated, it has been killed without regard. Into the twenty-first century, the wolverine faces the challenge of a changing climate. Without the longer, colder weather, female wolverines can not den (in the snow banks) to properly to birth and raise their young. Wildlife authorities fear this may continue to drastically reduce the number of wolverines in the wild.
7. A carnivore that once was thought to be a very close relative of members of the animals who comprise the "weasel-like" family was given its own separate classification. A unique animal not only due to its appearance but due to its well-known means of defense. Which animal is very well known for its ability to spray a musky odor - up to ten feet - when threatened?

Answer: Skunk

The image that most people would conjure when "skunk" is mentioned is that of a striped skunk; or, for example, the cartoon character, Pepé Le Pew. With a wide range that covers most of North America, skunks can be seen in the wild in a variety of coat colors or color patterns. Skunks have been known to be domesticated as pets with some success but owning one in much of the United States and Canada requires special permits and/or restrictive circumstances. Skunks and stink badgers are the mammals that are included in the family Mephitidae.
8. Many characteristics of this carnivore make it unique among animals. If you get a glimpse of their face you should notice two most distinguishing features: both sexes have elongated canine teeth we call tusks and both sexes sport a broad area of Vibrissae or whiskers making them appear to have a moustache. Who is this arctic pinniped?

Answer: Walrus

Walruses, along with seals and sea lions, are labeled as "pinniped" or flipper-footed. The number of walruses in the wild was drastically reduced during the 19th and 20th centuries due to hunting them for their tusks. Strict protection of walruses has seen some re-growth of their natural populations.

The main source of their diet is clams they find the ocean floor. Walruses will also eat sea cucumbers, sea worms and other marine animals. Calves are born weighing up to 150 pounds and can be four feet long.

As adults, their blubber may be as thick as five inches.
9. A sea lion can correctly be called a seal; a seal can correctly be called a sea lion. They are the same animal and those names can be used interchangeably. True or False?

Answer: False

Although similar in appearance and genetic composition, they are different animals - both carnivores. To be even more confusing, though, some sea lions are (correctly) called fur seals. A few brief examples of the differences are: With only a few exceptions seals live in temperate regions; sea lions may be found in either tropic or temperate regions. Sea lions have external or visible ear flaps. Again, considering there are a few exceptions, but the majority of seals (called true seals) have ear holes with no ear flap.

Their locomotion - on both land and in the water - is different between the two pinnipeds as well. Sea lions can walk on land using all four limbs while seals crawl on land. In the water, sea lions' fore limbs are the power limbs of motion; the seals get more of their propulsion from the hind limbs when in water.
10. A member of the Canidae family on the organizational chart that has a "dog-like" appearance, this carnivore was considered to be extinct in North America as recently as 1980. Reintroduction programs have had mixed success and as of the early 2000s it was estimated that less than 100 of them were in the wild. Who are these controversial canines?

Answer: Red wolf

In size the red wolf falls between the gray wolf and the coyote. An adult red wolf's average weight is 45 to 80 pounds. They have faced the same worries of the gray wolf and for many of the same reasons. The red wolf once had a range that included much, if not all, of the Southeastern United States.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service not only strives to continue a successful re-introduction and breeding program, it has facilities that are maintained throughout the United States to increase the number of red wolves in captivity.
Source: Author cowboybluedog

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