Trivia Cafe

100 Animal Trivia Questions and Answers

Species, behaviour and the natural world's stranger facts.

Every question below is shown with its answer, so you can scan the whole set, pick the ones you want, and run a round without clicking through. They are free to use for quiz nights, classrooms and pub quizzes. Where a question has extra background, it links to the full explanation.

Go deeper: Living Planet codex on Codexery โ€” birds, mammals, marine life and endangered species

  1. 1.How is it possible to determine the sex of a parakeet?

    Answer: By the COLOR of the waxlike swelling ON THE BEAK, called the cere

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  2. 2.The largest type of living bird can be 9 feet in height and weigh 350 lbs (160 kgs). What kind of bird is it?

    Answer: OSTRICH

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  3. 3.These animals reach lengths of up to 7 feet, have about 100 teeth, emit sounds when moving to help them navigate, and reach travelling speeds of about 35 miles per hour. What kind of animals are they?

    Answer: DOLPHINS

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  4. 4.What's the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?

    Answer: TURTLES CAN LIVE IN WATER OR LAND / TORTOISES LIVE ONLY ON LAND

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  5. 5.What are two common names for jumping, tailless amphibia?

    Answer: FROGS or toads

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  6. 6.According to the principle of German biologist Karl Bergmann, warm-blooded animals living in cold climates tend to be ... bigger? or smaller?... than animals of the same species living in warm climates.

    Answer: LARGER

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  7. 7.By what name do we identify those certain kinds of weasels whose coats change color in the winter?

    Answer: ERMINE

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  8. 8.Which animal has the longest gestation period, about 645 days almost 2 years

    Answer: ELEPHANT

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  9. 9.In the same way that humans are identified by their fingerprints, dogs are identified by what kind of prints?

    Answer: NOSE PRINTS

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  10. 10.According to the San Francisco Department of Animal Care and Control, what is the most commonly reported wild animal sighted by people in the streets of San Francisco?

    Answer: RACCOONS

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  11. 11.What is the largest species of penguin?

    Answer: Emperor penguin

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  12. 12.What animal can sleep for up to three years?

    Answer: Snail

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  13. 13.What is the largest living reptile?

    Answer: Saltwater crocodile

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  14. 14.This historical period was characterized by the existence of dinosaurs, and the appearance of the earliest mammals and birds. It was named after a Swiss mountain range. What's the name?

    Answer: JURASSIC

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  15. 15.Which animal is the largest member of the cat family?

    Answer: TIGER

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  16. 16.From the French term chatepelose, meaning โ€œhairy cat," comes the appropriate name of what insect?

    Answer: CATERPILLAR

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  17. 17.What is a group of wolves called?

    Answer: Pack

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  18. 18.Animal names: If a male chicken is called a rooster and a female chicken is called a hen, โ€ฆa. What do you call a male cat? B. What do you call a female, mature horse? C. What do you call a young swan?

    Answer: C. CYGNET

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  19. 19.Insects like bees, moths, and beetles go through a number of stages of growth. What are the names of the two intermediate stages between the egg stage and the adult stage?

    Answer: LARVA / PUPA

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  20. 20.What animal is the larva of a butterfly or moth?

    Answer: CATERPILLAR

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  21. 21.The largest one of these came from a giant clam in the Philippines and weighed about 14 pounds. What was it?

    Answer: A PEARL

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  22. 22.What swimming stroke is named after an insect?

    Answer: BUTTERFLY

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  23. 23.What insect produces honey?

    Answer: Honeybee

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  24. 24.How many legs does a spider have?

    Answer: Eight

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  25. 25.How many legs do each of these animals have? a. Lobster? (claws considered legs) b. Spider? c. Grasshopper?

    Answer: a. 10, b. 8, c. 6

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  26. 26.Generally speaking, who lives longer: cats or dogs?

    Answer: CATS AVE 13-17 YRS dogs 8-15

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  27. 27.What country has a bill of rights for cows?

    Answer: INDIA

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  28. 28.A "joey" is the baby of what animal?

    Answer: KANGAROO

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  29. 29.What venomous snake is the longest in the world?

    Answer: King cobra

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  30. 30.What bird can fly backwards?

    Answer: Hummingbird

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  31. 31.What animal is known for its ability to change color to match its surroundings?

    Answer: Chameleon

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  32. 32.Where do flies go in the winter? Do they die, fly to warmer climates, or hibernate?

    Answer: HIBERNATE - in dry and warm spaces such as home attics

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  33. 33.Which 2 types of rather small creatures are primarily responsible for having spread the bubonic plague that killed millions of people in Europe and Asia in the 14th century?

    Answer: RATS AND FLEAS

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  34. 34.This aquatic animal, found mostly in Australia, has a bill like a duck, dense fur, webbed feet, and a broad flattened tail. What kind of animal is this?

    Answer: DUCK BILLED PLATYPUS

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  35. 35.Why do hummingbirds hum?

    Answer: FROM THE VIBRATION OF THE RAPID FLAPPING WINGS

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  36. 36.What is the only bird known to fly backwards?

    Answer: Hummingbird

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  37. 37.What ocean creature has the largest brain of any invertebrate?

    Answer: Giant squid

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  38. 38.What is the collective noun for a group of crows?

    Answer: Murder

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  39. 39.What is the only mammal capable of true flight?

    Answer: Bat

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  40. 40.The symbol of the Anheuser-Busch brewing company is the image of draft horses pulling the beer wagons. These horses originated in Scotland. What kind of horses are they?

    Answer: CLYDESDALES

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  41. 41.What two breeds of dog are most commonly used as seeing-eye dogs or guide dogs for the blind?

    Answer: GERMAN SHEPHERDS / LABRADOR RETRIEVERS, GOLDEN RETRIEVERS

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  42. 42.The largest mammal that ever lived weighs more than 100 tons. What kind of animal is this?

    Answer: BLUE WHALE

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  43. 43.What is the tallest animal in the world?

    Answer: Giraffe

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  44. 44.What is the largest species of shark?

    Answer: Whale shark

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  45. 45.The heaviest crustacean ever captured was 3 foot 6 inches long and weighed 44 pounds. What kind of animal was it?

    Answer: LOBSTER

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  46. 46.What marine mammal is known as the 'sea cow'?

    Answer: Manatee

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  47. 47.This kind of bird has a distinctive call and lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. What is it?

    Answer: CUCKOO

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  48. 48.To search for land, Noah sent what two kinds of birds out from the ark?

    Answer: RAVEN / DOVE

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  49. 49.What is the world's most venomous spider?

    Answer: Brazilian wandering spider

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  50. 50.How many hearts does an octopus have?

    Answer: Three

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  51. 51.What is the fastest land animal?

    Answer: Cheetah

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  52. 52.In the insect world, certain male bees have the enviable task of performing no work. Their primary function is to mate with the queen bee. What are they called?

    Answer: DRONES

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  53. 53.The heaviest freshwater fish ever caught weighed 468 pound when caught in Benicia, California in 1963. What kind of fish was it?

    Answer: White STURGEON

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  54. 54.Which animal has the longest gestation period? Human, Whale, or Elephant?

    Answer: ELEPHANT

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  55. 55.Most penguins live in the southernmost lands on earth, such as Antarctica, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa, and mostly in cold climates, but some penguins can also be found on which islands in the Pacific Ocean near the equator?

    Answer: GALAPAGOS

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  56. 56.What is the only mammal that can fly?

    Answer: Not the flying squirrel which glides but does not fly: THE BAT

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  57. 57.What is the only kind of deer whose females have antlers?

    Answer: REINDEER

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  58. 58.What are the names of the wild dogs, nocturnal hunters, native to Australia?

    Answer: DINGOS

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  59. 59.What is the only bird which provides us with leather?

    Answer: OSTRICH

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  60. 60.How many legs does an octopus have?

    Answer: Eight

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  61. 61.What is a baby kangaroo called?

    Answer: Joey

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  62. 62.What animal produces cashmere wool?

    Answer: Goat

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  63. 63.Which river in New Mexico and Arizona hsa the same name as a venomous lizard?

    Answer: GILA RIVER / GILA MONSTER

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  64. 64.This animal, a variety of wild goat, lives in high mountain areas of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and has large backward- curving horns. What is the name of this animal?

    Answer: IBEX

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  65. 65.What is the largest land animal?

    Answer: African elephant

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  66. 66.What type of annoying insect is named for a colorful article of clothing?

    Answer: YELLOW JACKET

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  67. 67.What color is a polar bear's skin underneath its white fur?

    Answer: Black

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  68. 68.When water passes through the gills of fish, the fish get what?

    Answer: OXYGEN

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  69. 69.What three animals appear in the nursery rhyme, โ€œHey Diddle Diddleโ€?

    Answer: Cat, cow, dog

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  70. 70.Which animals produce pearls?

    Answer: OYSTERS

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  71. 71.One of the most expensive types of animal fur comes from the slowest swimming marine mammal. What animal is this?

    Answer: SEA OTTER

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  72. 72.What tropical lizard has the ability to change colors?

    Answer: CHAMELEON

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  73. 73.What is the scientific name of the Oriental garden lizard: Aspidoscelis neomexicanus, Trioceros jacksonii, Amblyrhynchus cristatus or Calotes versicolor?

    Answer: Calotes versicolor

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  74. 74.What is the scientific name of the Marine iguana: Calotes versicolor, Amblyrhynchus cristatus, Trioceros jacksonii or Hemidactylus turcicus?

    Answer: Amblyrhynchus cristatus

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  75. 75.What is the scientific name of the Mediterranean house gecko: Ophiophagus hannah, Aspidoscelis neomexicanus, Hemidactylus turcicus or Calotes versicolor?

    Answer: Hemidactylus turcicus

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  76. 76.What is the scientific name of the Pacific cleaner shrimp: Centropyge bispinosa, Trachyphyllia geoffroyi, Mithraculus sculptus or Lysmata amboinensis?

    Answer: Lysmata amboinensis

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  77. 77.What is the scientific name of the Fire goby: Nemateleotris magnifica, Rhinecanthus aculeatus, Pseudochromis springeri or Pseudocheilinus hexataenia?

    Answer: Nemateleotris magnifica

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  78. 78.What is the scientific name of the Lyretail anthias: Paracanthurus hepatus, Pseudanthias squamipinnis, Elacatinus evelynae or Zebrasoma xanthurum?

    Answer: Pseudanthias squamipinnis

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  79. 79.To which biological family does the Pencil fish belong: Polypteridae, Lebiasinidae, Adrianichthyidae or Cyprinidae?

    Answer: Lebiasinidae

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  80. 80.What is the scientific name of the Neon tetra: Erpetoichthys calabaricus, Maccullochella peelii, Paracheirodon innesi or Lates niloticus?

    Answer: Paracheirodon innesi

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  81. 81.What is the scientific name of the reedfish: Erpetoichthys calabaricus, Maccullochella peelii, Paracheirodon innesi or Lates niloticus?

    Answer: Erpetoichthys calabaricus

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  82. 82.What is the scientific name of the Black-capped chickadee: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, Poecile atricapillus, Alexornis antecedens or Mniotilta varia?

    Answer: Poecile atricapillus

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  83. 83.What is the scientific name of the Black-and-white warbler: Mniotilta varia, Megaceryle alcyon, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos or Anthus rubescens?

    Answer: Mniotilta varia

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  84. 84.What is the scientific name of the Black-billed cuckoo: Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Coccyzus erythropthalmus, Catherpes mexicanus or Loxia sinesciuris?

    Answer: Coccyzus erythropthalmus

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  85. 85.To which biological family does the reedfish belong: Siganidae, Percichthyidae, Cyprinidae or Polypteridae?

    Answer: Polypteridae

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  86. 86.To which biological family does the ricefish belong: Adrianichthyidae, Siganidae, Lebiasinidae or Polypteridae?

    Answer: Adrianichthyidae

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  87. 87.To which biological family does the rabbitfish belong: Siganidae, Percichthyidae, Polypteridae or Adrianichthyidae?

    Answer: Siganidae

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  88. 88.What is the scientific name of the bobolink: Catherpes mexicanus, Megaceryle alcyon, Poecile atricapillus or Dolichonyx oryzivorus?

    Answer: Dolichonyx oryzivorus

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  89. 89.What is the scientific name of the Canada goose: Alexornis antecedens, Poecile atricapillus, Megaceryle alcyon or Branta canadensis?

    Answer: Branta canadensis

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  90. 90.What is the scientific name of the American white pelican: Catherpes mexicanus, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos or Alexornis antecedens?

    Answer: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

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  91. 91.What is the scientific name of the Thinstripe hermit crab: Clibanarius vittatus, Ciliopagurus strigatus, Calcinus seurati or Dardanus venosus?

    Answer: Clibanarius vittatus

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  92. 92.What is the scientific name of the Halloween hermit crab: Calcinus seurati, Aniculus maximus, Ciliopagurus strigatus or Dardanus venosus?

    Answer: Ciliopagurus strigatus

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  93. 93.What is the scientific name of the Common eider: Nycticorax nycticorax, Caracara plancus, Sterna paradisaea or Somateria mollissima?

    Answer: Somateria mollissima

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  94. 94.What is the scientific name of the Bearded vulture: Aegypius monachus, Nycticorax nycticorax, Ciconia nigra or Gypaetus barbatus?

    Answer: Gypaetus barbatus

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  95. 95.What is the scientific name of the Arctic tern: Caracara plancus, Aegypius monachus, Sterna paradisaea or Chroicocephalus ridibundus?

    Answer: Sterna paradisaea

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  96. 96.To which biological family does the Atheraster umbo belong: Ophidiasteridae, Goniasteridae, Asterinidae or Asteropseidae?

    Answer: Goniasteridae

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  97. 97.To which biological family does the Neoferdina cumingi belong: Asterinidae, Solasteridae, Goniasteridae or Asteropseidae?

    Answer: Goniasteridae

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  98. 98.To which biological family does the Leather star belong: Asteropseidae, Asterinidae, Solasteridae or Goniasteridae?

    Answer: Asteropseidae

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  99. 99.What is the scientific name of the Creek whaler: Pteroplatytrygon violacea, Carcharhinus fitzroyensis, Carcharhinus acronotus or Carcharhinus signatus?

    Answer: Carcharhinus fitzroyensis

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  100. 100.What is the scientific name of the Lost shark: Hypanus rubioi, Pteroplatytrygon violacea, Carcharhinus obsoletus or Carcharhinus altimus?

    Answer: Carcharhinus obsoletus

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