Night Safari Trivia Quiz

Answer: Raccoon

The North American raccoon ranges from Panama to Canada. It initially inhabited forested areas but, due to its adaptability, its range now includes coastal marshes, mountains and even urban areas. In addition to the ringed tail it also has black fur surrounding its eyes giving the appearance of wearing a mask. Raccoons tend to scavenge food from trash cans so are sometimes jokingly referred to as "trash pandas".

Answer: Porcupine

Porcupines are herbivorous rodents that are covered with a coat of quills. Quills are sharp, barbed specialized hairs that the porcupine uses as its main form of defense. New world porcupines occupy North and South America, while old world porcupines are found in Europe, Asia and Africa. Porcupines are usually solitary animals except during mating season.

They have a long gestation period of about 200 days and give birth to a single baby with soft quills that harden soon after birth.

Answer: Armadillo

The nine banded armadillo is found throughout the Americas. It is an insectivore that spends its time foraging for its next meal by digging through the soil. It originated in South America and has since spread though Central America and into the United States as far north as Indiana. Its back is covered by hard, keratinized, scales that offer it some protection against predators.

Answer: Opossum

The opossum is a nocturnal mammal that originated in South America and has spread though Central America and into North America. It is an omnivore and highly adaptable. When threatened, its physiological response is to pass out and release a foul odor, that smells similar to a dead animal, from its anal glands.

It remains in this state for a few minutes to a few hours then wakes up and goes on its way. This is where the term "playing possum" comes from.

Answer: Jaguar

The jaguar is the biggest cat species in the Americas. It is an opportunistic carnivore at the top of its food chain. The jaguar has the ability to roar while the other large cat species in the Americas, the cougar, does not have the anatomy to allow it to roar. The jaguar has spots similar to a leopard but is sturdier and heavier.

Answer: Capybara

The capybara is considered the largest member of the rodent family. It is a semiaquatic herbivore found throughout South America, except in Chile. It ranges in weight from 70 - 140 pounds. It is the preferred food of the anaconda.

Answer: Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian devil is found only in Tasmania. It is the largest carnivorous marsupial. It is black in color and the size of a small dog but has a large head which allows a large amount of muscle mass. It has the most powerful bite relative to body size of any mammal. It will hunt prey but also scavenges carrion. It can eliminate all traces of a carcass including bones and fur.

Answer: Wombat

Wombats are herbivores that dig extensive burrows. They average about 3 feet in length and weigh between 50 - 75 pounds. They have developed a unique backward pouch which keeps the dirt from collecting in the pouch. Another unique feature of wombats is their feces is cube shaped.

Answer: Spotted Hyena

Hyenas have a thick torso with short hind legs. They are carnivores and are known to drive off larger predators from their kills. They are found in much of Sub Saharan Africa. They are primarily hunters but will also scavenge. Hyenas have the ability to digest both bone and skin. The females are generally larger than the males.

Answer: Lion

Lions are the apex predator of their territory. They generally hunt in groups and target larger mammals such as zebras or African buffalo. In a pride of lions the females generally do most of the hunting. The gestation period for lions is 110 days and they usually give birth to 1 - 4 cubs.