Dazzler the Lizard Runs for her Life! Quiz

Answer: Yakushima macaque

Yakushima is an island to the south of Kyushu. It is covered in thick forest, some of which has been designated as a World Heritage Site, and it is the wettest place in Japan. The Yakushima macaques are related to the macaques in Hokkaido who are well-known for taking hot baths in thermal springs and who wash their food before eating it. However, the macaques on Yakushima have developed separately; they are somewhat smaller and have a greyer fur.

The primary diet of macaques consists of seeds, vegetation, fruit, fungi, etc. But sadly for Dazzler, during a scientific study in the 1980s the Yakushima macaques were also observed eating frogs and lizards. Dazzler needs to be careful!

Answer: Greater roadrunner

Greater roadrunners (the more common of the two roadrunner species) can fly but they are usually found walking or running after their prey. Roadrunners mainly eat insects but they often eat small mammals, birds, and reptiles. They sometimes eat snakes - it's not unusual for two roadrunners to cooperate in killing and eating a snake - and a lizard like Dazzler would make a tasty meal. Dazzler should have invested more heavily in the Acme Corporation when she had the chance!

Answer: Mouse lemur

Mouse lemurs are the smallest of all primates. There are several species, including the Pygmy Mouse Lemur which has a total head and body length of only 4-5 inches (12-13 cm). While most lemurs are vegetarian, mouse lemurs are omnivorous and will happily eat a small lizard. Dazzler had better get out of the forest as fast as she can!

Answer: Meerkats

Meerkats are small members of the mongoose family that live in the Kalahari, Botswana and South Africa. They are often seen standing upright as they look around but they generally forage close to the ground in the hunt for insects, scorpions, spiders, centipedes... and, sadly for Dazzler, small reptiles such as lizards. Like all mongooses, meerkats are capable of killing snakes though they are usually content to drive the most dangerous snakes away by mobbing them. Meerkats live in groups around 20 strong; the dominant female gives birth to the pups which are then cared for not only by their mother but also by other females in the clan. Adult meerkats teach the pups to hunt, including how to deal with dangerous prey.

It looks as though poor Dazzler is about to become the next lesson!

Answer: Least weasel

The least weasel is the smallest member of the weasel family, and the smallest of all true carnivores; males are approximately 7-10 inches long (18-25cms) with females a bit smaller. The least weasel is the species to which the name 'weasel' was originally applied and in Britain that nomenclature still applies.

In Ireland, where there are no least weasels, the name is given to stoats which do exist there. Stoats and least weasels are closely related, being part of the same family group as otters, ferrets, badgers, and wolverines.

In general, least weasels prefer to eat small rodents such as mice or voles but they will also eat insects, eggs, baby birds, and lizards. Watch out, Dazzler, pop goes the weasel!

Answer: Skunk

Skunks are found across North and Central America and are well-known for the foul-smelling spray they produce to mark their territory and as a defensive measure. There are five species of skunk, of which the striped skunk is the largest. Skunks are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at dusk and dawn, and they are also omnivorous, feasting on rodents, amphibians, eggs, carrion, fruit, berries and insects - and on lizards. Poor Dazzler needs to make a decision - would she rather be sprayed by a skunk or eaten?

Answer: Rattlesnakes

The rattlesnake is one of four venomous snakes in the USA whose bite can be fatal to humans. They come in sixteen different varieties with even more sub-species and colour variations. Like all pit vipers, rattlesnakes have two pits under their nostrils that enable them to detect warm-blooded prey but they will happily eat cold-blooded prey too so Dazzler is definitely at risk. Rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous - the female carries the eggs inside her body until they hatch when she immediately gives birth to the live young. Rattlesnakes are dangerous from birth and as there can be as many as 25 in one litter, Dazzler should hope that she isn't surrounded by pregnant females!

Answer: Ferret badger

Four different species of ferret badgers, part of the badger subfamily of Mustelidae, have been identified in south-east Asia. They are found in India, China, Nepal, Java, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam - and one, the Everett's ferret badger, is found only on Mount Kina Balu in Borneo.

Ferret badgers are much smaller than other badgers, with long bodies that resemble those of ferrets. However they have a badger's short legs, with strong claws designed for digging. Little is known about how they live, their social groupings or territories, but it is known that they eat earthworms, small mammals, carrion, small birds, snails, cockroaches, and some plant food such as fruit. And lizards. Oh, Dazzler, that log won't save you!

Answer: Virginia opossum

Virginia opossums are about the size of a domestic cat. They have five toes on each of their feet but their hind feet are distinguished by an opposable thumb. As marsupials, they give birth to very small young, about the size of a bee, which then crawl into their mother's pouch and attach themselves to a teat. When threatened, opossums pretend to be dead which often makes the predator lose interest - an act which gave rise to the expression "playing possum". Opossums also have a prehensile tail, allowing them to hang from branches.

Opossums can often be found in towns and, like raccoons, are partial to eating pet food and human leftovers. Their natural diet includes insects, earthworms, snails, mice, some vegetable matter and grains, and... beware, Dazzler, they eat lizards!

Answer: They eat other lizards

There are several different species of collared lizard but most of them live in deserts in Mexico and the south-western parts of the USA. The Sonoran collared lizard lives in Arizona and Mexico. Collared lizards come in different shades of green, tan, and yellow but they all have two brown/black bands around the neck, hence the name. Collared lizards have powerful back legs so they can chase down their prey, which includes grasshoppers, small snakes, frogs, beetles, and an awful lot of lizards. Dazzler is done for!