Nature's Countdown Trivia Quiz

The African Elephant is native to the savannahs, woodlands and deserts of sub-Saharan Africa. They have the longest gestation period of any land mammal at around 22 months. Females typically give birth to a single calf every 4-6 years.

Newborn calves weigh about 100 kg (220 pounds) and are completely dependent on their mother for milk. They begin to eat vegetation at around 6 months of age, but continue to nurse for up to 2-3 years. African elephant calves can walk soon after birth, allowing them to keep up with the herd, and they rely on the protection of the group to survive predators.

Sperm whales are found in deep ocean waters across the globe, diving to great depths to hunt squid. Females give birth every 3-5 years after a gestation period of 14-16 months. They typically have a single calf, which at birth is about 4 metres (13 feet) long and weighs about 1 tonne.

The calves nurse for up to 2 years, relying entirely on their mother's fat-rich milk. Sperm whale calves stay close to their mother and are able to swim immediately after birth, but they depend on the pod for protection and survival.

Giraffes inhabit the savannahs and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. Their gestation period lasts 13-15 months, after which a female usually gives birth to one calf, twins are rare. Newborn giraffes are about 6 feet (1.8 metres) tall and can stand and walk within a few hours of birth, which is crucial for avoiding predators.

They stay close to their mother and are weaned between 6 and 12 months, although they start nibbling on leaves within a few weeks.

Native to the Andes Mountains of South America, llamas have a gestation period of 11-12 months and give birth to a single offspring called a cria. Llamas breed without a specific season, and females can become pregnant again about 2-3 weeks after giving birth. Crias are usually standing within an hour and start nursing immediately.

They are weaned at 5-6 months of age, but are able to graze soon after birth.

Humans are found across the globe in diverse habitats, from arctic regions to tropical climates. The gestation period for humans is typically 9 months, or about 280 days. Most human births result in a single child, although twins and other multiples are possible.

Newborns are highly dependent on their parents for nutrition especially if mothers are breastfeeding. Human infants are born with limited motor skills and take many months to crawl and walk. The long period of childhood and dependency is unique among mammals.

The giant anteater is native to Central and South America and lives in grasslands, forests and savannahs. Females give birth to a single pup after a gestation period of 6 months. The young anteater is immediately able to cling to its mother's back, where it will remain for several months while the mother forages for food.

Anteaters feed on ants and termites using their long snouts and sticky tongues, and the young are weaned at around 9 months, but remain with their mothers for up to a year.

Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world and are found in wetlands such as rivers, lakes and swamps in South America. They have a gestation period of about 5 months and give birth to litters of 1-8 young, with an average of 4-5. Capybara pups are highly precocial, able to eat grass within hours of birth, although they continue to nurse for about 16 weeks.

Capybaras are social animals and often live in large groups. Young capybaras are well protected by the group and quickly learn to swim and dive, an important skill for avoiding predators.

Native to the savannahs and grasslands of Africa, lions have a gestation period of 3.5-4 months. Lionesses typically give birth to 1-4 cubs, which are born blind and helpless. For the first 6 weeks they rely on their mother for milk and protection, remaining hidden in a den. At 6-8 weeks they are introduced to the pride and begin to eat meat.

They continue to nurse for about 6 months and stay with their mother until they are 2 years old. Cubs are vulnerable to predators and many do not survive their first year.

Bengal tigers are found in the forests and grasslands of India and surrounding regions. After a gestation period of about 3.5 months, a tigress gives birth to 2-4 cubs in a secluded den. The cubs are born blind and dependent on their mother for food and protection. They begin to eat meat at about 2 months of age, but continue to suckle until they are about 6 months old.

Tigers are solitary hunters and the mother teaches her cubs to hunt before they leave her at around 2-3 years of age.

Grey wolves are found in forests, tundras and grasslands throughout the northern hemisphere. Their gestation period is about 2 months and a female typically gives birth to 4-6 pups in a single den. The cubs are born blind and deaf, and rely on their mother and the pack for warmth and protection. They begin to eat solid food at around 3-4 weeks, but continue to suckle for up to 8 weeks.

The entire wolf pack helps to raise the pups, providing food and teaching them survival skills. Wolves are highly social animals and the pack structure is crucial to the survival of the young.

The Tasmanian devil, native to the island of Tasmania, has a gestation period of just 21 days. Females give birth to 20-30 embryos, but only 4 survive because the mother has only 4 teats in her pouch. The surviving joeys stay in the pouch for about 3-4 months, during which time they continue to grow.

Once they leave the pouch, they stay in a burrow for another 3 months, still dependent on their mother's milk. At 9 months they are fully weaned and begin to fend for themselves.

Golden hamsters, also known as Syrian hamsters, originate from the arid regions of Syria and Turkey, although they are extremely rare in the wild. They have a very short gestation period of about 15-17 days and can produce 7-10 litters per year. Each litter usually consists of 4-12 pups, although larger litters can occur. The pups are born hairless and blind, but grow quickly and develop fur within a week.

They start eating solid food at around 10 days of age and are fully weaned by 3 weeks. Golden hamsters reach sexual maturity at 4-6 weeks, making them one of the fastest reproducing small mammals.