Melange of 'C' Animals Trivia Quiz

Answer: aquatic

Mostly found in Africa and South America, there are roughly 1,600 species in the cichlid family, making it one of the largest vertebrate families. They are mostly freshwater fish, although some can cope with brackish water. Many are found in aquaria, and a large number are used as food.

Answer: aquatic

The candiru is also known as the toothpick fish or vampire fish and is a species of parasitic catfish. A small-bodied freshwater fish, it is found in the Amazon basin. It feeds on the blood of other fish, latching on through the gill chamber. It appears to cause no damage and may get its fill within a couple of minutes.

Answer: aquatic

The capelin is a small northern hemisphere forage fish which feeds on krill, plankton and crustaceans. In turn, it is eaten by whales, seals, cod, mackerel and squid. They migrate south to spawn on the south coast of Iceland and the Scandinavian peninsula. The post-spawning mortality rate is very high.

Answer: aquatic

Many ray-finned fish bear the name 'chub'. In the UK, it is Squalius cephalus which is common, a freshwater fish which can be found in small rivers, large streams and lakes mainly throughout northern Europe. They spawn in fast-flowing water on gravel and, as juveniles, will shoal but otherwise lead a solitary life. They are opportunistic feeders so are popular with anglers.

Answer: aquatic

Thought to have become extinct some 66 million years ago, a non-fossilised fish first came to scientific notice when one was found in the catch of a local fisherman in 1938. It is a well-known example of a Lazarus taxon, disappearing from the fossil records but found to be alive much later. Two marine species of these lob-finned fish have now been found, off east Africa and near Indonesia. Unusually for fish, the eggs hatch inside the female.

Answer: aerial

Chats are considered to be part of the fly-catcher family, although at one time they were classed as part of the thrush family (and known as chat-thrushes). DNA analysis has been used to place them with the Muscicapidae family. There are some outliers bearing the name: some Australian honeyeaters, some American cardinals and the yellow-breasted chat from North America.

Answer: aerial

Part of the Corvidae (or crow) family, there are two species of chough, the red-billed chough and the Alpine or yellow-billed chough. These are glossy black-plumed passerine birds with brightly coloured legs, feet and bills They are found in mountainous or cliff-like areas in Europe and North Africa. The Australian-based white-winged chough belongs to a different family.

Answer: aerial

Native to Australia, the three passerine species of currawong get their common name from the sound of the call they make. They used to be called crow-shrikes or bell-magpies but they are not members of the crow family. They are omnivorous and are known to over-winter in towns and cities, driving off other species, and can be quite friendly to people.

Answer: aerial

Amongst the smallest of hummingbirds are the various coquettes from the Lophornis genus. Most are under 7.5 cm (3 in) in length and weigh 3 grams (0.1 oz) or less. The eleven extant species can be found in various countries in Central and South America. The males tend to have colourful crests.

Answer: aerial

The chickadees are small North American birds, classed as members of the Paridae family and Poecile genus. Members of the family found outside North America are called tits. For example, the grey-headed chickadee is also called the Siberian tit when found in Eurasia. The North American name comes from their alarm call. They might be called 'fee-bee' if they were to be named after their normal call.

Answer: terrestrial

Weighing 8-19 kg (18-42 lbs) and up to 50 cm (20 in) at the shoulder, the caracal is a wild cat with long tufted ears found in Africa through to Central Asia. Typically nocturnal, it preys on birds, rodents and small mammals. With its 3 metre (9.8 ft) leap, it will take birds out of the air. Otherwise it stalks and then chases down its prey.

Answer: terrestrial

Talking of rodents, the capybara is the biggest of them all. Native to South America, it can grow to 134 cm (4.4 ft) long and weigh up to 66 kg (146 lb), normally with the female being the bigger of the sexes. They are semi-aquatic herbivores and grind their food with jaws moving front-to-back rather than side-to-side. They will regurgitate their food to masticate it again, like cows chewing the cud.

Answer: terrestrial

Also known as coatimundis, coati are diurnal mammals native to South America and as far north as Southwestern US. Between 2 and 8 kg (4.4 and 17.6 lb), they have a long tail and a pig-like snout, hence the nickname 'hog-nosed raccoon'. Belonging to the raccoon family (Procyonidae), their tails are not used for gripping (unlike the family member kinkajou) but for signaling.

They are omnivores.

Answer: terrestrial

An arboreal New World monkey from South and Central America, capuchins have often been used in films and TV shows, for example, in the 1981 Indiana Jones film "Raiders of the Lost Ark" so are perhaps familiar as a result. Their name comes from the colouring of their fur which resembles those of the friars from the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin.

Answer: terrestrial

The chinchilla is a crepuscular rodent, one of two species found in the Andes of South America. Prized for its fur since the 16th century, as many as 150 pelts might go into a coat. Over-exploitation has lead to near extinction in some of the range. The domesticated version is also kept as a pet. The three chinchilla rabbit breeds are unrelated although they were developed for their chinchilla-like fur.