South America
Mountain chains can get pretty long, and these are no exception, being the longest mountain chain in the world.
What are the Andes mountains?
All sea snakes have this, which they inject into their prey, unlike most freshwater snakes.
What is venom or poison?
The CDC urged people not to meet with people from other households for this annual holiday... which worked a little bit.
What is Thanksgiving?
"C-A-S-T-L-E!" *blank* screamed. "Smoke 'em! Burn 'em! Dust 'em! Roast 'em!" she shrieked. (Reynolds 177)
Who is Aunt Sophie?
In the US, more of these critters are eaten than any other seafood.
What are shrimp?
This word is Portuguese for River, which is funny because usually people use it to refer to the former capital city of Brazil rather than any river.
What is Rio?
This term means that these animals cannot regulate their own temperature, which means they must bask in the sun to warm up.
What is cold-blooded?
Shipping companies are outfitting their facilities and planes with climate controls and temperature regulators in preparation for mass shipments of these, coming soon to nursing homes and medical staff.
What are COVID vaccines?
"The crazy thing was, even though Coach was an Otis and a chipped-tooth turtle face, *blank* was pretty." (Reynolds 175)
Who is Mrs. Margo?
Soldier Field in Chicago, normally home to football games, instead was the site of a field trip for these unlikely little visitors that have been bored being cooped up in their aquarium.
What are penguins?
While it's not the only rainforest in the world, this one is probably the most famous, though you're not likely to find Wonder Woman's family there.
What is the Amazon Rainforest?
While snouts can be a decent way to tell alligators and crocodiles apart, a better way is to check whether these are showing when their mouth is closed.
What are lower teeth?
These flowers, now a symbol of Christmas, were brought back and named after the US's first ambassador to Mexico.
What are poinsettias?
"Lu's mom was there holding pom-poms, of course, and next to her was a man who looked just like *blank*, the flashy dope man who hangs out at the basketball court. But it wasn't. At least I didn't think it was. Couldn't have been." (Reynolds 173)
Who is Goose?
Often considered one of the ugliest animals in the world, it turns out these fish got a bad rep because of how their body expands when brought outside of their high-pressure deep-sea environment.
What are blobfish?
I don't remember the context, but I'm pretty sure I remember making a Jeopardy question before about how hard it must have been to come up with this fancy name for Brazil's new(ish) capital.
What is Brazilia?
This southern US freshwater snake's first and most famous warning sign is showing off its gaping white maw.
What is a cottonmouth?
Workers constructed an overpass for animals over highway I-80 in this state.
What is Utah?
"I saw Sunny's father, *blank*, still dressed up in a suit, but with sunglasses on." (Reynolds 173)
Who is Mr. Lancaster?
This weird-looking deep-sea eel can unhinge its jaw like a snake, and swallow prey whole!
What is the gulper eel?
Francisco Pizarro was one of these Spanish explorers that ended up destroying most of the Inca civilization. That was fine with him, since, as the name implies, they weren't there looking for peace.
What are conquistadors?
Thanks to weird biology, sea snakes can absorb this vital resource directly from water through an area near its nostrils,
What is oxygen?
This company uses AI to create a database of pictures from all over the internet, so police can give them a face and it can show them where else their face shows up online.
What is Clearview AI?
"Patty's (white) mother, holding her little sister, *blank*, up on her shoulders." (Reynolds 173)
Who is Maddy?
Stuart Bee was stranded at sea for more than two days, clinging onto his capsized vessel named after this flat diamond-shaped fish.
What is Stingray?