Odd One Out Trivia Quiz

Answer: jackal

The jackal is a member of the Canidae family, the same family as domestic dogs and other wild canids such as wolves and foxes. Jackals are known for their slender bodies, long legs and distinctly dog-like appearance which classifies them as canids. They are medium-sized carnivorous mammals found mainly in Africa, Asia and parts of south-eastern Europe. These intelligent and adaptable animals are known for their keen hunting skills, often preying on small mammals, birds, insects and scavenging for carrion. Jackals have a social nature and typically live in small family groups, working together to hunt and defend their territory. They have a keen sense of smell, acute hearing and sharp teeth for capturing and consuming prey. Their distinctive howling and yelping vocalisations are often used for group communication and territorial marking.

Felidae is a family of carnivorous mammals, including large cats like lions, tigers and smaller species such as domestic cats, known for their agility, keen hunting instincts and retractable claws.

Answer: Moose

Moose are large herbivorous mammals that belong to the Cervidae family, like deer, elk or caribou. They are the largest members of the family and are primarily found in North America, Europe and parts of Asia. Moose are known for their impressive size, towering antlers (carried by males) and their distinctive appearance with a long, drooping dewlap or "bell" under the throat. They are herbivores, feeding on vegetation, including aquatic plants, shrubs and tree leaves. Moose are solitary animals for most of the year, but can form small groups during the mating season. Their vocalisations include deep grunts and bellows, which are used to communicate and attract mates during the breeding season. Moose play a crucial role in shaping their ecosystems by influencing plant growth and distribution.

Bovidae is a diverse family of ungulate mammals that includes species like cows, antelopes and sheep, known for their cloven hooves and herbivorous diet.

Answer: anaconda

Anacondas are large, non-venomous constrictors found in the tropical regions of South America, particularly in the Amazon rainforest. They are known for their immense size, robust body and aquatic lifestyle. There are several species of anacondas, with the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) being the largest snake species in the world by weight and girth. Anacondas, like other members of the Boidae family, are constrictors, which means they capture and kill their prey by wrapping themselves around it and squeezing tightly to suffocate their victims. They primarily feed on a diet of aquatic and terrestrial animals, including birds, fish, reptiles and mammals. Anacondas are known for their impressive size and strength, making them an apex predator in their habitat. They are renowned for their ability to consume large prey and for their elusive and often mysterious nature in the dense jungles and swamps where they live.

Venomous snakes are reptiles that possess specialised glands and fangs for injecting venom into their prey, which helps to immobilise or digest it.

Answer: tapir

Tapirs are large, terrestrial mammals found in Central and South America as well as Southeast Asia. They are known for their unique appearance, characterised by a robust body, a short trunk-like snout and distinctive, elongated and flexible upper lips. There are several different species of tapir, including the Baird's tapir, the Malayan tapir, the Brazilian tapir and others. Tapirs, like other members of the order Perissodactyla (such as horses or rhinos), are odd-toed ungulates. This group includes animals with an odd number of toes on their feet, typically one or three toes. Tapirs have three toes on their hind feet and four toes on their forefeet. They are primarily herbivores, feeding on a diet of leaves, twigs, fruits and aquatic plants. Known for their solitary and elusive nature, they play an important role in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and as prey for predators.

Even-toed ungulates are a diverse group of mammals with an even number of functional toes on each foot, including species like deer, cattle and giraffes, known for their herbivorous diet and cloven hooves.

Answer: wallaby

The wallaby is a marsupial, belonging to the family Macropodidae, which also includes other marsupials like kangaroos. Wallabies are small to medium-sized animals found primarily in Australia and nearby islands. They are known for their compact size, strong hind legs and distinctive hopping locomotion. Marsupials are a group of mammals characterised by giving birth to relatively undeveloped live young, which then continue to develop and nurse in a pouch on the mother's abdomen. This reproductive strategy differs from placental mammals, such as humans and dogs, which give birth to more fully developed offspring. Wallabies play an important role in the ecosystems in which they live and are known for their adaptability to different habitats.

Placentals are a group of mammals characterised by their reproductive system in which the developing fetus is nourished by a placenta, allowing for longer gestation periods and live births.

Answer: dolphin

Dolphins are a diverse group of marine mammals known for their sleek bodies, intelligence, and playful behaviour. They are part of the Delphinidae family within the Cetacean order. Dolphins can vary in size, from the small and agile common dolphin to the larger and iconic bottlenose dolphin. Dolphins, along with other marine mammals like whales and porpoises, belong to the order Cetacea. Cetaceans are characterised by their fully aquatic lifestyle, streamlined bodies and adaptations for life in the water. They are further divided into two suborders: Odontoceti (toothed whales) and Mysticeti (baleen whales). Dolphins are part of the Odontoceti suborder, which includes species with teeth rather than baleen plates for feeding.

Walruses, seals and sea lions are classified in the order Carnivora. They are thought to share a common ancestor with the dogs and cats.

Answer: cuttlefish

Cuttlefish, marine invertebrates of the class Cephalopoda, are related to squid and octopus. Their unique features include a soft body surrounded by a calcareous inner shell called the cuttlebone, which regulates buoyancy. Known for their extraordinary camouflage abilities, complex behaviour and intelligence, cuttlefish are classified as invertebrates because they have no spine or backbone.

Marine vertebrates, such as dolphins, sharks and sea turtles, are a diverse group of animals with a backbones that have successfully adapted to life in the world's oceans.

Answer: beaver

Beavers are large, semi-aquatic rodents found throughout North America and Eurasia. They are known for their distinctive features, including a broad, flat tail, webbed hind feet and powerful incisors. Beavers have a significant impact on their ecosystems through their dam-building activities, which create wetland habitats and affect water flow. They are classified as rodents, which is one of the largest and most diverse orders of mammals. Rodents are characterised by their continuously growing incisors which are used for gnawing. Beavers' incisors are particularly strong and suited for cutting down trees and building dams and lodges. As rodents, beavers share characteristics with other members of the order, such as squirrels, mice and capybaras. They are known for their gnawing behaviour, which is essential for their survival and for shaping their environment.

Lagomorphs, which include rabbits and hares, are herbivorous mammals known for their "peg teeth" - smaller, hidden incisors located behind the larger front incisors that allow them to efficiently gnaw and grind plant material to maintain their continuously growing teeth.

Answer: armadillo

Although all four are insectivores (insect-eaters), the armadillo is not classified in the order Insectivora. It is classified with the sloths and anteaters in the order Xenarthra. Xenarthrans are a group of mammals that are characterised by unique skeletal features, including extra joints in the lower back. These adaptations allow armadillos to be skilled diggers, helping them to excavate burrows for shelter and to find insects, their primary food source. The bony plates in their armour, called scutes, provide protection from predators, and their sharp claws are ideal for digging and rooting for food. Armadillos are mainly found in the Americas, with a range that stretches from the southern United States down to South America.

Insectivora is an order of mammals, including shrews, moles and hedgehogs, known for their insect-eating habits and diverse adaptations for foraging and hunting small invertebrates.

Answer: emperor penguin

Neognathae is an infraclass within the class Aves (birds) which includes the vast majority of modern bird species. The name "Neognathae" means "new jaw", referring to their more advanced beak structures compared to their ancient relatives, the Palaeognathae (which include birds like ostriches and emus).

Neognathae includes a wide range of birds, from songbirds and birds of prey to waterfowl and penguins. Characterised by a well-developed beak and powerful flippers for underwater navigation and hunting, the Emperor Penguin is renowned for its remarkable adaptation to the harsh Antarctic environment, including nesting during the cold winter months.