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Meerkats are Marvelous! Trivia Quiz

What do you know about meerkats? Take this quiz and find out!

A multiple-choice quiz by Trufflesss. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Trufflesss

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
336,260

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
366

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A group of meerkats is known by different names. Which one is not a word for a group of meerkats? Hint

a brace

a clan

a mob

a gang

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Question 2 of 10

2. Meerkats live in the Kalahari Desert and parts of Southern Africa. What language does the word "meerkat" come from? Hint

Afrikaans

Chinese

German

Russian

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Question 3 of 10

3. Meerkats are able to dig their own body weight in dirt in just a few seconds.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. Meerkats make excellent pets.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. Meerkats often babysit the offspring in their group. What interesting thing can females who have never had babies do for their "charges"? Hint

bring them toys to play with

sing them to sleep

produce milk in order to feed them

carry them in their pouches

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Question 6 of 10

6. What will a meerkat babysitter do with the babies if she can't retreat to safety when there is danger? Hint

she will eat them

she will put them in a tree

she will abandon them

she will lie on top of them

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Question 7 of 10

7. Meerkats have an unusual nickname. What is it? Hint

make-up artists of the animal world

pickiest eaters of the animal world

solar panel of the animal world

best babysitters of the animal world

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Question 8 of 10

8. Meerkats have ears that can close. Why? Hint

to prevent them from being ripped while fighting

to prevent dirt from entering while digging

to intimidate predators

to advertise readiness for mating

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Question 9 of 10

9. The meerkat diet is varied and interesting. Which of the following is not one of their foods? Hint

worms

leaves

grasshoppers

eggs

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Question 10 of 10

10. Meerkats communicate in three different ways. Which of the following is not one of the forms of meerkat communication? Hint

body language

scent

bristling their fur to make them look larger

vocalisations

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A group of meerkats is known by different names. Which one is not a word for a group of meerkats?

Answer: a brace

They are known as a gang, a clan, or a mob. They usually live in groups of about 20 individuals although super families of about 50 meerkats have been found.

2. Meerkats live in the Kalahari Desert and parts of Southern Africa. What language does the word "meerkat" come from?

Answer: Afrikaans

It is a loanword from Afrikaans via middle Dutch "meercatte" meaning monkey: (meer = sea, catte = cat) because monkeys came from overseas. In Afrikaans it means "lake" or "marsh" cat.

3. Meerkats are able to dig their own body weight in dirt in just a few seconds.

Answer: True

This ability has saved many meerkats from predators! They are vulnerable to falcons, jackals and eagles as well as snakes.

4. Meerkats make excellent pets.

Answer: False

Meerkats are wild animals which may bite. Their strong smell is noticeable to humans, and they may scent-mark both their home and their owners. They are also highly social animals and as such must be kept with others of their own kind.

5. Meerkats often babysit the offspring in their group. What interesting thing can females who have never had babies do for their "charges"?

Answer: produce milk in order to feed them

Meerkat babysitters may nurse their charges, a behaviour known as allonursing. They take their jobs very seriously and will protect the youngsters from danger even if it means getting hurt themselves.

6. What will a meerkat babysitter do with the babies if she can't retreat to safety when there is danger?

Answer: she will lie on top of them

Once a babysitter perceives danger from other creatures, she will take the babies underground to safety. If this is not possible, she will gather them up and lie on top of them. Danger can come from different places: the sky (birds), the ground (snakes, other meerkat groups).

7. Meerkats have an unusual nickname. What is it?

Answer: solar panel of the animal world

Meerkats aren't picky eaters at all, they actually have quite a varied diet. "Solar Panel of the Animal World" comes from the meerkat tendency to stand on their hind legs using their dark-skinned bellies to catch the sun's rays and warm up.

8. Meerkats have ears that can close. Why?

Answer: to prevent dirt from entering while digging

Meerkats are incredible diggers! They dig to forage for food as well as to make bolt holes used to escape from predators.

9. The meerkat diet is varied and interesting. Which of the following is not one of their foods?

Answer: leaves

They are omnivores and eat many things: fruit, ant larvae, scorpions, crickets, birds, small snakes, millipedes, small rodents, lizards and birds. They do not however, eat leaves or grass.

10. Meerkats communicate in three different ways. Which of the following is not one of the forms of meerkat communication?

Answer: bristling their fur to make them look larger

The scent that is generated by meerkats comes from glands in the anus mixed with urine. The use it to scent mark each other and their territories. Meerkats also have many different vocalisations. They can actually distinguish between a verbal warning of danger from the sky versus one from the land.

Source: Author Trufflesss

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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