Mammal Mia Trivia Quiz

Answer: Squirrel

They look like and are common ground squirrels, but have one unusual feature that distinguishes them from your everyday squirrel: their food includes large quantities of meat, generally small birds, voles, moles and other small rodents. The squirrels themselves are rodents.

These squirrels are found through eastern Europe to Asia Minor. The length of the souslik is around eight inches and it weighs in at about eleven ounces. This squirrel is diurnal and lives in colonies of individual burrows or grassy slopes. They come out during to day to feed on seeds, plants, roots and flightless small invertebrates. The eggs of ground nesting birds are also on the menu. Sentinels are posted to whistle at any signs of danger.

This squirrel has a very specific habitat need for it to build its tunnel systems. It requires short turf in order to dig properly, the best terrain being steppes and pastureland. Sporting fields, lawns and parks are also good, but are too often filled with humans.

In winter, these squirrels hibernate, each in his own chamber of dried vegetation in the burrow. In spring, mating takes place and the litter consists of about five to eight young. After six weeks or so of nursing, the offspring are off on their own.

The category of this 'Spermophilus citellus' - (Linnaueus, 1766) is labeled 'Vulnerable", as its habitat is decreasing.

Answer: Fossa

Fossas are endangered species, with fewer that 3,000 individuals remaining in spring, 2015. The fossa is similar to the mongoose and also has feline features.

It is also the largest of the carnivorous mammals of Madagascar, up to about 1 1/2 meters (appx. 4 1/2 feet) long. Most fossas are brownish-orange and are kinda cuddly looking (except for those very sharp teeth and claws).

Answer: Hairy saki

The hairy or monk saki is so called because its head hair grows forward toward the face, resembling a monk's cowl. The face itself appears somewhat clean-shaven, and it carries a worried frown. Perhaps this shows its inner feelings because these poor little guys are subject to anxiety attacks at the least thing and often die from shock because of it. That alone makes them endangered.

Answer: Aardwolf

Its name means earth wolf because it lives in burrows. This is a wary looking, widely striped animal. Although it is a carnivore, the aardwolf can eat a quarter million termites every night because it has a long sticky tongue that they stick to. It comes in various colors, and its category if 'of least concern'.
The aardvark is called an earth pig in Afrikaans (which derives primarily from Dutch).

Answer: Moon rat

The moon rat is not without some charm (can't think of any at the moment). It's a diurnal hunter and lives in southeast Asia. It is the largest of its order, insectivora. Its other endearing feature is the odious smell that comes from its musk glands.

Answer: Argali

This sheep is large, nimble and has enormous thick curling horns. Its status is Endangered because of habitat loss, its uses in Chinese medicines and trophy hunting. The argali live in herds of between two and about one hundred sheep, segregated by gender until breeding season.

Answer: Cacomistle

This is a shy, small furry critter that resembles an elongated raccoon. It is also called the cat squirrel or ringtailed cat because its tail is as long or longer than its body. The name 'cacomistle' originates in the native Nahuatl word, which translates to 'half-cat' or 'half mountain lion'.

This is a long, sleek, wiry and timid animal. It is not yet on the Endangered list but is considered as 'under threat'. There are other types of this lovely animal but this is the North American version.

Answer: Fennec fox

The fennec is adorable, with an endearing look on its face, and has perky ears as long as (maybe longer than) its face. It resembles a small dog or cat. But, it is wild like all the others mentioned in this quiz and is best left alone as it may well be on the endangered list one day.

Its status as yet is unknown but it has only one very small habitat in central Argentina. It needs the type of land that may be dug up and made into burrow systems, and this is found in that one area. Dogs, cats, farm animals and machinery, as well as humans are potential predators.

The fennec is rare and elusive, living primarily underground and being a nocturnal hunter. It eats insects, worms and whatever it finds in the burrows or outside at night.

Answer: Mandrill

The mandrill is native to some parts of Africa. The above description is of the males, being far more colorful and noticeable than the female. Mandrills are very sociable and hunt together to provide food for their families. If necessary, the families form a network of warning signs and have sentinels that transmit several different sounds.

They bark, grunt and crow so that the hunters will not be attacked or eaten.

Answer: Douroucouli

The big eyes are probably helpful in nighttime hunting. They are also arboreal mammals native to Central and South America. They are able to express themselves verbally with a wide range of noises, such as gruffs, grunts screams, low trills and others. These mammals, too, are seldom seen, and are wary of humankind.