Bird Brains
A chicken from Fruita, Colorado named Mike became a national celebrity in the 1940s when he lived for 18 months without what usually essential body part?
His head! A part of his brain stem allowed him to keep living without it for some time!
How many different species of reptiles are there abouts?
A. 2,000
B. 11,000
C. 7,500
D. 10,500
B. 11,000. There are more than 11,000 species of reptiles on the planet, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
What is the largest fish in the ocean?
The Whale Shark! It is not a mammal, but a fish!
Which bug was the first to make it to space?
Fruit Flies!
What odd creature with a beaver-like tail and duck-like bill is actually venomous?
The Platypus! They might look cute and cuddly but come across a male platypus in mating season and you’ll be in for a painful shock. Male platypuses have a hollow spur on each hind leg connected to a venom secreting gland, and while their venom is lethal, there are no recorded deaths from platypus stings.
In a famous Tchaikovsky ballet, every morning Odette, a beautiful young woman, transforms into what majestic white bird?
A Swan!
Why do chameleons change color?
Contrary to popular belief, a chameleon changing its skin color doesn't necessarily mean the animal is trying to camouflage itself. More often, this remarkable ability is used as a way of controlling body temperature--lightening skin to reflect light and cool down or darkening skin to absorb light and warm up. Another primary function of color change is social signaling: altering skin tone to communicate intentions to potential mates or rivals.
How long can the electric eel get?
A. 3 feet
B. 8 feet
C. 10 feet
D. 5 feet
B. 8 feet long! By discharging all electrocytes simultaneously an electric eel can generate hundreds of volts (the largest recorded is 500 V) with a current of up to 1 A (ampere). When an electric eel senses prey, or a threat, it sends a signal through its nervous system to the electrocytes.
What body part to butterflies taste with?
They taste with their feet!
Besides platypus, there is one other species of animal that are considered mammals but that lay eggs, what is it?
A. Armadillos
B. Quokkas
C. Pangolins
D. Echidnas
Echidnas! Echidnas are similar to ant-eaters and armadillos in their appearance and their diets!
If they were allowed to compete at the Olympics they would win the 100m in under 7 seconds – what bird is the fastest running animal on two legs?
The Ostrich!
What is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?
A. A tortoise is land-dwelling
B. A tortoise has a softer shell
C. A tortoise cannot retract into its shell
D. Tortoises are bigger than turtles.
A tortoise is land-dwelling, while many (though not all) other turtle species are at least partly aquatic.
A. Pike
B. Trout
C. Sturgeon
D. Bass
C. Sturgeon
What is a hornets favorite meal?
A bee! As close to cannabalistic as you can get!
What is true of a shark?
A. Sharks do not have bones.
B. Sharks have great eye sight.
C. Sharks are mammals.
D. Sharks have scales.
A. Sharks do not have bones. Sharks are made of cartilage, so that allows them to be lithe, light, and flexible in the water.
What’s the fruity name of a flightless bird that lives in New Zealand?
The Kiwi!
What is the fastest striking venomous snake?
A. king Cobra
B. Black Mamba
C. Death Adder
D. Rattlesnake
The death adder can attack, inject venom, and go back to striking position in less than 0.15 seconds.
What is the only fresh water fish that can swim backward?
A. Barracuda
B. Smallmouth Bass
C. the Guppy
D. Eel
D. The Eel!
What bugs have been around for over 300 million years?
A. Ladybugs
B. Dung beetles
C. Dragonflies
D. Bees
Dragonflies!
What is the name of the smallest hooved animal in the world?
A. Miniature Antelope
B. Pygmy Elk
C. Lesser Okapi
D. Mouse Deer
D. Mouse Deer! Mouse Deer, or Chevrotain, are the smallest hooved animal alive, and they are neither a mouse nor a deer but resemble both! They are the last living species of their order, so there's nothing quite like them still alive today.
The smallest of Africa's waterfowl species, the African pygmy goose is native to what country that also has many lemur species?
The Island of Madagascar!
What is the study of reptiles called?
A. Entomology
B. Ichthyology
C. Ornithology
D. Herpetology
D. Herpetology. Herpetology is the branch of zoology which deals with the study of reptiles and amphibians. It deals with their behaviors, geographic ranges, physiologies, development, and genetics. Many herpetologists focus on conservation of these species, while others use them to assess overall environmental conditions in a particular area.
What color is a live lobster?
Blue/Black!
How many eyes do caterpillars have?
A. 6
B. 12
C. 18
D. 20
B. 12
What are naked mole rats known for, besides being, well, naked?
A. They eat meat
B. They live solitarily
C. They have many offspring
D. They are resistant to cancer
D. They are resistant to cancer! Scientists are still figuring out why that is, but a lot of what is known suggests that the evolution of this species as a result of its environment includes chemicals and body processes that lessen, inhibit, or completely prohibit tumor and cancer growth.