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Quiz about Random Paleontology Knowledge
Quiz about Random Paleontology Knowledge

Random Paleontology Knowledge Trivia Quiz


This is pretty random Paleo knowledge, but some of it might be so specific as to be difficult.

A multiple-choice quiz by whoneedsthesefacts. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
65,405
Updated
May 11 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
1354
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Horses originated on which continent? (Name the modern day continent that contains the earliest-known horses). Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. What is the name of the study of what happens to fossils after their deposition? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Which of the following mammal parts is most likely to be preserved as an identifiable fossil? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Answer: (One Word)
Question 5 of 10
5. The average brain size for Neanderthals is larger than that of modern humans.


Question 6 of 10
6. Which of the following probably did NOT hunt and eat hominids during the Pliocene? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The majority of fossils found throughout the world are which of these? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Piltdown Man is an amazing example of what? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Deinotherium was most closely related to which of the following? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Dinofelis means terrible ___?

Answer: (One Word)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Horses originated on which continent? (Name the modern day continent that contains the earliest-known horses).

Answer: The Americas

Horses originated in the Americas and went extinct there after dispersing to other continents. They were returned by the Spanish Conquistadors.
2. What is the name of the study of what happens to fossils after their deposition?

Answer: Taphonomy

Palynology is the study of pollen and spores and ichnology is the study of tracks and other prints. Paleoecology, as it sounds, relates to study of climate at the time the fossils were formed.
3. Which of the following mammal parts is most likely to be preserved as an identifiable fossil?

Answer: Teeth

The teeth of a mammal are the most likely thing to be fossilized. In any given fossil bed containing mammalian fossils, teeth represent the highest percentage of identifiable remains. Many species are known only from their teeth.
4. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Answer: Egg

Eggs existed long before chickens.
5. The average brain size for Neanderthals is larger than that of modern humans.

Answer: True

On average, the cranial capacity of Neanderthals was larger than that of humans, though among creatures so similar, this is a poor measure of intelligence.
6. Which of the following probably did NOT hunt and eat hominids during the Pliocene?

Answer: Cheetah

Cheetahs begin to show up in co-existence with hominids during the Pliocene, but they were already specialized for high speed chases. Without the crouching and stalking techniques of leopards, cheetahs would have been at a disadvantage hunting hominids, and the meal would probably not have been worth the effort.
7. The majority of fossils found throughout the world are which of these?

Answer: Invertebrate Marine Animals

Most fossils are marine invertebrates, partially because they have easily fossilized parts (shells and such) and partially because they live in an environment where sedimentation creates for good conditions for preservation. Also, most life on earth has been marine, so they have the advantage of numbers.
8. Piltdown Man is an amazing example of what?

Answer: a hoax

Piltdown Man is the most famous hoax in paleoanthropology. To this day, no one knows for sure who perpetrated this hoax. There is too much information about Piltdown Man to put in this brief explanation, but if you're interested, it's an amazing story.
9. Deinotherium was most closely related to which of the following?

Answer: Elephant

Deinotherium was a large elephant, with tusks that extended down from its mandible.
10. Dinofelis means terrible ___?

Answer: Cat

Dinofelis was a saber-toothed cat named for its frightful appearance.
Source: Author whoneedsthesefacts

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