All Things Green Trivia Quiz

Answer: Grass snakes

Smooth greensnakes are so named due to the smooth scales on their backs, as opposed to their counterparts (rough greensnakes - Opheodrys aestivus). They grow to between 36 and 51 cm (14-20 in) in length, and enjoy woodlands, meadows and marshes for their habitat.

Smooth greensnakes are generally considered docile, and they have a couple of defensive mechanisms that support that. They try to stay in greenery to employ their colouring as a natural camouflage, and also have the ability to secrete a substance that is very smelly, encouraging their predators to leave them alone.

Answer: True

All parrots have the ability to mimic sounds, although some seem more inclined to try to mimic human speech than others. The rose-necked parakeet is one of those who, in captivity, can learn to 'speak'. In the wild, it may not pick up human speech, but it is known for having a very distinctive, squawking call.

Although this parakeet was originally from Africa and South Asia, as mentioned in the question, it can now be found across the globe, as feral populations (from pet parakeets escaped or released into the wild) have established themselves in many different regions, especially in Europe. This species is quite hardy, and has adapted to more northern climes and to urban areas better than any other parrot species. As such, it has come to be considered a pest in some areas - they do like to eat nuts and seeds, berries, fruits and vegetables - becoming a bane to farmers.

Answer: Fluffy sculpin

The fluffy sculpin is a coastal fish that can be found along the west coast of North America from Baja California all the way to Alaska. It enjoys feeding on small shrimps and crabs, as well as amphipods and bristle worms that can be found in tide pools.

They are not a large fish, and will grow to a maximum size of approximately nine centimeters (3.5 inches).

Answer: Georgia and Louisiana

The American green tree frog (Dryophytes cinereus)'s range extends as far north as Maryland and south along all the coastal states to Florida, and as far west (again mostly in the coastal states) as central Texas. They are medium-sized frogs (about 6 cm / 2.5 inches in length) that are commonly found in or near water (ponds, streams, lakes, marshes).

Louisiana adopted the American green tree frog as its state amphibian in 1993, with Georgia following suit in 2005.

Answer: Highly venomous

The praying mantis (Mantis religiosa), like most of the more than 2,400 species of mantis within the order Mantodea, is a very effective predator.

Its raptorial legs are adapted to catch and hold prey, complete with spikes along the coxa and trochanter.

On its head (that can swivel 180 degrees) are two big compound eyes, as well as three smaller, simple eyes. They have a binocular field of vision that can focus in to precisely measure distance to prey when closer.

Mantises (mantids) are very patient hunters, using their green or brown colouring to blend in with its surroundings as it waits for (or sometimes stalks) its prey. And it can sit very, very still as it does so.

Depending on the size of the mantis, prey can include small birds, lizards and amphibians, along with the many insects and arachnids that make up its main diet.

Answer: Guinea turaco

The Guinea turaco has a wide range throughout coastal West Africa (from Senegal) down to coastal Central Africa (as far south as northern Angola). It prefers tropical and subtropical forests, and is very territorial. They enjoy eating fruit and blossoms, which often keeps them close to cultivated lands.

Answer: True

Many gecko species are capable of caudal autotomy, where they can voluntarily drop their tail when threatened. It is not a great loss for them, as they have the capacity to regrow the tail.

The Madagascar day gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis) is one of those species. Apart from that defense mechanism, day geckos are, appropriately enough, diurnal (most active during the day), and have the capacity to climb nearly any surface, due to the setae on the pads of their feet and Van der Waals forces. Like most geckos, they enjoy a diet of insects and fruit. They can grow to approximately 22 cm (8.7 in), making for one of the larger day gecko species.

As the name suggests, the Madagascar day gecko is native to Madagascar, enjoying the humid and warm climate of the island's east coast.

Answer: Soldier

Chinavia hilaris is the binomial name for the green stink bug / green soldier bug, which is common throughout North American from Canada down to northern Mexico. It earns the 'stink' moniker for its stink glands that can discharge a foul-smelling liquid when the bug is threatened. It is considered a pest species, as the adults will eat developing crop seeds and, failing that, dine on leaves and stems, causing a fair amount of crop damage.

Note - this is a separate species from the green stink bug found in Australia, which has the binomial name Plautia affinis.

Answer: Green tree python

With the binomial name Morelia viridis, the green tree python is part of the genus Morlia (within the family Pythonidae) containing eight recognized species, all within roughly the same region of Oceania. As the name suggests, they enjoy hanging around in trees, and are known for the distinctive way that they do so, making a saddle out of the body and resting the head in the center.

Green tree pythons enjoy dining on small mammals (typically rodents) and small lizards. They grow to be around 2 meters (6.6 ft) in length, with the females generally slightly longer and heavier than the males.

The emerald tree boa and green anaconda are both native to South America, and the eastern green mamba can be found in East Africa.

Answer: Algae

Sloths of all type are known to be extremely slow-moving, and they also happen to live in an extremely humid habitat - rainforest. This, combined with coarse, textured hair that is ideal for collecting moisture, makes for the perfect conditions to grow algae.

Scientists have found that most species of sloth have algae, and that in some cases, that species of algae is found nowhere else - staying within the family, as it were. And while a sloth's fur makes for a good habitat for the algae, the algae in turn gives a measure of camouflage to the sloth. It has also been proposed that sloths could receive nutrients from the algae directly through the skin, which would make for a unique symbiotic relationship.