Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Swim... Multiple Choice Quiz | Animals

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. First off, let's go to the obvious example - the defining characteristic of birds is that they can fly. However, there is a group of birds which are flightless. Which of these oddly-named birds is amongst these flightless rogues?

Answer: Takahe

The kaka is not to be confused with the kakapo which, like the takahe, is flightless.

The takahe has bluish-purple plumage and has a terrifically coloured bill, which covers most of its face. It is quite bulky - which goes towards explaining why it cannot fly.

There is something quite prehistoric about the appearance of the takahe - it looks more like the earliest birds rather than the modern day counterparts. This bird, indigenous to New Zealand was thought to have become extinct, before it was rediscovered by Geoffrey Orbell in 1948.

2. Most people associate the unique quality of "walking on water" with insects only, but there are some reptiles, such as the basilisk, which also possess this ability. There is one reptile, however, which has gone one further and, through many clever insect-like adaptations, is just about unsinkable! What is the name of this reptile?

Answer: The Brazilian pygmy gecko

As mentioned in the question, there are some lizards which can walk/run on water. One such example is the common basilisk, which, although being fairly large in size, runs at such high speeds and has such large feet that it is able to run for up to 20 metres without sinking. This unique quality has earned it the nickname, "Jesus Christ lizard".

The Brazilian pygmy gecko is even more well adapted to locomotion on the surface of water than the common basilisk. This tiny lizard is smaller than many insects and so is very light and more likely to be supported by the surface tension of the water. More impressive is the skin of the Brazilian pygmy, which is incredibly hydrophobic and actually repels the water on which it stands.

3. Mammals as a class are usually made dangerous by brute strength, sharp teeth, claws and horns. But there are some mammals which possess the extra characteristic of being venomous. Which of these creatures, often said to be similar in appearance to a shrew, is amongst this elite group of venomous mammals?

Answer: The solenodon

Living in the areas around the Caribbean, the solenodon is an insectivore which is now classed as endangered. It has been hunted to near extinction by the small Asian mongoose, which was introduced to the Caribbean in the 1800s.

There are two species of solenodon - the Hispaniolan and the Cuban - the former being rarely seen in the wild and the latter actually having been believed to be extinct until one was found in 2003.

4. From a young age we are taught that amphibians are born as tadpoles or polliwogs, which possess no limbs and gills. As they grow, their limbs form and they become more adapted for living on land. Which order of the class, amphibia, goes against this trend and does not develop limbs as they grow, giving them a snake-like appearance?

Answer: Caecilians

This characteristic makes caecilians more similar in appearance to other animals outside of the amphibia class. They range in size from small worm-like creatures to 1.5m monsters. Another similarity between caecilians and snakes is the physical appearance of their lungs - the left lung being noticeably smaller than the right. There is, however, one species (Atretochoana eiselti) of caecilian which has no lungs and is endemic to Brazil.

Like other amphibians, the caecilians excrete toxins onto their skin as a defence mechanism against predators.

5. Upon hearing the term, "cold-blooded," most would immediately think of reptiles. This means that reptiles cannot regulate their own body temperature and so most will bask in the sun so as to increase their metabolic rate. Which large reptile seems to be the exception to this rule?

Answer: The leatherback turtle

The leatherback can maintain a body temperature of up to 18 degrees Celsius above the surrounding water. This uncharacteristic quality of a reptile is attributed to the high metabolic rate of the leatherback - around 4 times higher than that expected for a reptile of its size.

On land the leatherback maintains the characteristic sluggishness of a turtle. However, the effect of its high metabolic rate is seen in the water, as the large turtle holds the record of "fastest recorded reptile".

The leatherback is the largest turtle in the world and it is given its name due to the texture of its skin.

6. Most fish obtain practically all of their oxygen from the surrounding water via their gills. However, many, such as mudskippers and eels, are adapted for absorbing some oxygen through their skin. Some fish go one step further and actually breathe air to obtain oxygen. Which of these fish shows this characteristic?

Answer: Nile bichir

Bichirs, like lungfish, have complex lung-like structures similar to those possessed by tetrapods, as apposed to the simple air sacs possessed by most fish. This is useful for fish which live in waters of low oxygen concentration. In order to obtain sufficient oxygen to carry out cellular respiration, bichirs rise to the surface and take in gulps of air.

In most fish, the conventional way of obtaining oxygen is to take in water, which passes over many gill plates. The blood flows in the opposite direction to the water so as to maintain a concentration gradient.

7. As mammals evolved from creatures which emerged from the sea, it seems odd that several members of the mammalian class have reverted back to the water. One animal which is more at home in the water than on land is also the animal believed to live further South than any other, braving the bitter cold of the Antarctic. Name this animal.

Answer: Weddell seal

Being able to dive below the thick ice, the Weddell seal can avoid the violent storms which occur at the surface. Portals between the Antarctic water and the surface are made by the seal, which uses its teeth to maintain a big enough hole for it to enter and leave the water as it pleases.

The Weddell seal possesses the predictable adaptations of having a very thick layer of fat and a thick coat of fur, both of which prevent most of its body heat escaping. Seal pups have much less body fat than their mothers and so are more vulnerable to the Antarctic conditions. The mothers combat this by sheltering their pups from the storms using their bulk, whilst providing milk with an incredibly high fat content. This is usually only a temporary measure until the pup can swim properly.

8. The scaly anteater (or pangolin) is not, as "scaly" would suggest, either a reptile or a fish. It is actually the only mammal in the world which possesses these scaly plates. Apart from rolling up into a ball, what other action does the pangolin perform in order to defend itself?

Answer: It sprays a foul liquid

A pangolin (also known as a scaly anteater) is a clumsy walker due to its amazingly large claws, which are used for climbing trees rather than skipping through the forest floor. It can be found roaming the tropical regions of Africa and Asia.

The scales of the pangolin are huge keratin plates, which give it an appearance similar to that of an pine cone, especially when curled up in a ball - a position it often adopts if under threat.

The long claws also come in handy for digging for food. The pangolin is an insectivore and has an amazing sense of smell so as to detect prey.

9. This next creature holds the odd and rare title of being an egg-laying mammal. It is the echidna (or spiny anteater). Essentially, what are the characteristic spines of the echidna made from?

Answer: Keratin

The appearance of an echidna is similar to that of a hedgehog, but with a longer snout.

The echidna gets its name from a monster of Greek mythology.

The similarities with other anteaters are seen in its feeding habits - using a long sticky tongue to obtain ants and termites which may be present in fallen trees or in the ground.

The egg of an echidna is soft and leathery - more similar to amphibian eggs than those laid by reptiles or birds. The egg is stored in a special pouch shortly after being laid. Once hatched, the young of the echidna is referred to as a puggle.

10. Maybe I mixed up the title - it should have read, "Fish gotta fly." Well, flying fish do, at least. What is the main reason why flying fish "fly"?

Answer: To escape predators

This is done by rapidly moving its tail and spreading it enlarged pectoral fins, which act as wings. The fish has evolved the skill of gliding against the air currents so as to maximise the duration of their flight.

Flying fish do not actually fly, but they glide. These fish have been observed gliding above the surface of the water for up to 30 seconds.

These fish mesmerised those who first viewed them, and they were even studied so as to provide possible ideas for aeroplane development.

Source: Author doublemm

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Birds Gotta Fly, Fish Gotta Swim... Quiz

...well, not exactly! Many groups of animals have typical characteristics connected with them, but there are some members of each group who do not go about things the conventional way. Here are just ten of them.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>