Animal Pun Fun Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lion

And the pretty Australian girl who told a fib was called a lyrebird. Sadly so, lions are now listed on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species because they have been hunted so relentlessly by man over the ages. Habitat loss, also caused by man, plays a part in their rapidly decreasing population as well. Once native throughout Africa and several Asian countries, these mighty beasts can now only be found in a few African countries and in one Indian national park. It's enough to break your heart. Lions live in prides, headed by one dominant male, several lesser males, and lionesses and their cubs. Interestingly, these animals are capable of an impressive range of facial expressions and vocalisations. The one you probably wouldn't want to see is when a lion is looking directly at you and licking its chops.

The pun here uses the word "Lion" to express that fact that the ranger was "Lyin'".

Answer: Catatonic

Credit to FT player picker77 for that one. And what did the champion feline win at the animal show? Catastrophe of course. If anyone has lapsed into a catatonic state, that person is basically incapable of movement or response of any kind. This condition can be caused by shock, psychological disorders, post traumatic stress disorders, or any other number of associated triggers. It is usually treated by high doses of psychoactive drugs, or sometimes by electroconvulsive therapy in extreme cases.

The pun here takes the first part of "CATatonic" and associates it with the word "Feline".

Answer: A cheetah

Cheetahs are members of the cat family. They have long, slender bodies somewhat in disproportion to their height, but they can run like the wind. This animal, with its beautiful spotted coat, is native to Africa and Iran and is now classified as vulnerable on the Endangered List. They kill their prey by chasing it down, and, still in the speed of the chase, trip it over. That's some fancy footwork. Cheetahs are prone to living in groups with other cheetahs, but the females have a more solitary nature than the males which is rather unusual. They are frequent visitors to the male groups, however, whenever they're in the mood and don't have a headache.

The pun here uses the word "Cheetah" to express the fact that the schoolboy was a "Cheater" during his exam.

Answer: The horn

A horn is a curved metal musical instrument usually to be seen in jazz bands. There are quite a wide variety of these instruments, with some even dating back to biblical times. A rhinoceros is a very large - and dangerous - horned animal found in Africa and the south east of Asia. These plant eaters, unlike elephants with tusks of ivory, have horn made of keratin, a product which creates hair and fingernails. Sadly, these animals are hunted ferociously by man, not for their meat, or survival purposes, but to kill or wound severely enough to cut off their horns which are used in traditional medicines or aphrodisiacs. If wounded, they are then left to die in pain and agony by their heartless hunters. It's appalling.

The pun here combines the use of "Horn" the musical instrument, with the "Horn" on the large and stately rhinoceros.

Answer: Bison

Another Fun Trivia player sent this one to me, but unfortunately, I can't remember which one. There are only two surviving species of bison left today, one in Europe and one in the North American continent and Canada. The American one is usually referred to as a buffalo - and it is huge. Whereas many hybrid species produce infertile offspring, bison can be bred with domestic cattle to produce offspring capable of reproduction. Spare a thought for the poor cow. This is not successful if a male bison is crossed with a domestic cow though, thank goodness, but only if a domestic bull is mated with a bison cow. He probably needs a ladder to get there, but it works.

The pun here combines the word "Bison" with the words "Bye, son" as the buffalo's son trotted off to school.

Answer: Nah, Dingo

A dingo is a wild, scrawny, half-starved looking dog native to Australia. Wikipedia informs one that it is a cultural icon of this country. Oh piffle, it's no such thing. This animal made its way to Australia with the far distant ancestors of today's aboriginal people when they first migrated here across a land bridge separating Australia from Asia. Dingoes have a range of whimpers and other vocalisations but they seldom bark. When they do, it's one short syllable only and nothing more. Well, you've all heard that Australian males are the strong silent type, haven't you?

The pun here uses the word "Dingo" to imitate the poorly enunciated Australian drawl of "Nah, didn't go" or "Nah, din go".

Answer: Constrictor

A constrictor is a reptile that kills its food by wrapping its long terrifying body around it and slowly crushing it to death. Then they swallow it whole. They're creepy as can be, and some are so large that they can even swallow a human being, if you believe all the horror stories. Also known as pythons, these horrible revolting creatures are found in many countries through southern Asia. We have some very large ones in Australia as well. Oh they're so revolting looking. I can't stand the look of any snake, so you'll pardon me for being brief. My grandfather woke up one night to find his head was all covered in slime. When he lit the lamp and looked around, a huge python was up on a roof beam over his head. It was sliming my grandfather's head prior to trying to get it into its mouth.

The pun for this creepy question combines the word "Constrictor" with the words "Constrict her" when describing the effect of a tight corset on a deliciously plump woman.

Answer: No buts, young man

He said he was just kidding. Domesticated goats are all descended from wild goats that roam various countries throughout the world. With over 300 different breeds of these animals, they're strongly related to sheep as well. That'd be one gigantic family re-union if they all got together, as there are more than 200 different breed of sheep as well. Goats are bred by man for their milk, hair, meat and skin, with their milk providing milk, butter, cheese, yoghurt and other products. To think that they give all those products and then get eaten in the end. So much for a happy retirement.

The pun here utilises a common maternal response to an arguing child ("No buts, young man") because one of the well known behaviours associated with goats is butting.

Answer: Bah humbug

A ram is a male sheep and a member of the ovine family, the animals of which are raised for their fleece, milk (an acquired taste) and meat. These animals were one of the first to be domesticated by man and are frequently mentioned, along with goats, to the time period of the Old Testament. The production of the ewes' milk only occurs for up to 100 days after giving birth to its offspring. After that, the milk dries up until the next pregnancy. Because ewes are only ready for fertilisation in the fall or autumn of each year, so that their lambs may be born in the early spring, scientists have created drugs that can bring them into the fertilisation stage at other times of the year as well, in order to ensure a constant supply of milk. This is very goods news for rams on farms where ewes are impregnated naturally, although some of them are probably worn out after going at it all year when they're not used to it normally. (No "Bahs" from the back, thank you).

This pun combines the grumpy old Ebenezer Scrooge's famous "Bah, Humbug!" at the mention of Christmas, with the "Baa-ing sounds made by sheep.

Answer: Wales

Whales are aquatic mammals that once, amazingly so, lived on land. Related closely to the hippo, it is thought these two decidedly different species began to diverge some forty million years ago. It's interesting to realise that hippos also spend a lot of time in water today. Whales, of course, now have no other choice. One wonders if the fact that they beach themselves occasionally reflects a deep seated psychological need to return to their ancestral roots (Freud agrees with me of course, don't you Siggy old boy?). Whales do everything at sea - living, mating, birthing and even suckling their young under water. Such amazing creatures. Their babies are born tail first (oh look, they're breeching) and the mother whale squirts her milk, which is the consistency of toothpaste, directly into her calf's mouth. When sleeping, which is done in a vertical position, and because they are conscious breathers, whales keep one side of their brains awake at all times in order to prevent drowning.

The pun here combines the country "Wales" in the United Kingdom, with the aquatic "Whale", a gentle creature hunted relentlessly and mercilessly by the Japanese in particular in our part of the world. I live in a town on the east coast of Australia, where whales swim right by our headlands to the northern hemisphere, and then back again with their new calves every year. If you've ever witnessed the glory and wonder of a whale breeching, you'll understand the distress it causes to know that these amazing creatures are so vulnerable to the greed of man.