My Menagerie Trivia Quiz

Answer: Texas Longhorn

The Texas longhorn, of course, is a cattle breed, and most definitely not a domestic pig.

There are hundreds of breeds of domestic pigs that originate in many different places around the world. I don't actually remember what breed(s) our landlords had on their farm, I just remember them being really smelly!

Answer: Knight bee

Your basic beehive has three types of bees: worker bees (they're female) do all the work - gather up the pollen, make honey, repeat; a queen bee, who is responsible for the laying of eggs; and drones (male) who exist only to service the queen bee. There is only ever one queen per hive. When a new one is born, it will form its own hive when grown.

We quit with the beekeeping after my mom developed an allergy to bee stings.

Answer: Plymouth Rock

Specifically, they would have been Barred Plymouth Rock chickens. Originally the breed was all barred in colouring, but over time other Plymouth Rock breeds were also developed, not all of them barred. The breed has always been popular (it was developed in 1849) due to its dual purpose (good for eggs AND meat) and good temperament.

The funny story is that while they were chicks, I kept them in an old aquarium in my room... they got out overnight and I woke up with one standing on me, and one dead underneath me. I ran to my neighbour's to get a replacement, hoping that my parents wouldn't find out.

Answer: Scotland / England

Scotland and Northern England, to be a little more precise. Developed as herding dogs, this popular breed (many types) has spread all over the globe. It should be noted that not all dogs that fit within the collie breed actually carry the collie name.

I could have sworn our dog was Lassie - she looked just like her!

Answer: No

Cats are carnivores. You may catch them chewing on grass or catnip from time to time, but the reality of a cat's existence is that if it doesn't have meat in some form, it will die. Dogs are omnivores; they CAN survive on a non-meat diet, but they still prefer and do well with meat, too.

Our Suzie was no exception. The problem with trying to share a house with cats and other small rodent-like pets is that you always have to watch that the cat doesn't eat them.

Answer: Hocks

From the bottom up on the hind legs, a horse has hooves, coronets, pasterns, cannons (like shins), hocks (like knees), chestnuts, gaskins (like thighs) and stifles. There are a lot of other body parts that I won't get to naming, but suffice it to say that horses are magnificent creatures.

I was a naughty boy, sometimes. I would sit on our deck with our .117 calibre air rifle and shoot at our horses (about 50 yards away), making them spook and run around their corral.

Answer: Freshwater

Neon tetras are native to blackwater streams in Peru, Colombia and Brazil. Their blue and red iridescent colouring make them popular aquarium fish. In the wild they can live up to ten years, but in aquariums their lifespan is halved.

What I always liked best about neon tetras was the fact that the fish is transparent!

Answer: Australia

Cockatiels are native to Australia and are one of the most popular birds kept for pets around the world! They are the smallest members of the cockatoo family, and are distinguished by their long tail feathers and a colorful yellow crest that can be raised when startled or excited, or laid flat when angry or hostile.

I ended up getting a friend to 'birdsit' for me when I was away from home for a summer working, and the poor thing died while I was away (I've since forgiven my friend).

Answer: Skunk geckos

Many species of gecko have the ability to cling to smooth surfaces by means of settae on the pads of their feet (van der Waals forces). The white-lined (or skunk) gecko's natural habitat is in the warm climates of India, Indonesia, New Guinea, Palau, and the Solomon Islands.

The problem with being able to cling to walls is that geckos can escape their terrariums, if not properly contained. Ours managed to escape on a few occasions.

Answer: Diurnal omnivores

The bearded dragon gets its name from its ability to flare out the skin around the throat when it is threatened or territorial. It is native to the arid regions (woodlands and deserts) of central Australia, and enjoys an omnivorous diet. Its spiny ridges give it a fierce look that matches its name.

We fed our beardie a regular diet of crickets, lettuce, chopped bits of fruit and meat, and when he got big enough, pinky mice.