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Otterific! Trivia Quiz

Otters are highly intelligent, playful, semi aquatic mammals that are found the world over. I have always liked them but never yet managed to see one in the wild.

A multiple-choice quiz by colpeakbagger. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
colpeakbagger

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
337,458

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
289

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Otters are members of which animal family? Hint

Otariidae

Mephitidae

Felidae

Mustelidae

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Question 2 of 10

2. One of the most widespread species of otter is the eurasian otter which occurs across Europe, Asia and North Africa. What is its latin name? Hint

Pteronura brasiliensis

Lontra felina

Lutra lutra

Hydrictis maculicollis

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which species of otter found in South America is the largest and can grow up to six feet long? Hint

Amazonian river otter

Very large otter

Giant otter

Mammoth otter

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of these has not been used to describe the smell of otter spraints (droppings)? Hint

Fish

Bananas

New mown hay

Lavender

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Question 5 of 10

5. Fishermen in Bangladesh have trained otters to chase fish into their nets.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which religion considers it taboo to kill an otter? Hint

Buddhism

Zoroastrism

Judaism

Taoism

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Question 7 of 10

7. What does an otter live in? Hint

Sett

Nest

Drey

Holt

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which species of otter is one of the few mammals that is capable of using tools? Hint

Hairy nosed otter

Short clawed otter

Sea otter

Neotropical river otter

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Question 9 of 10

9. Apart from habitat destruction, what is the main reason that the sub-Saharan African Spotted necked otter is declining in numbers? Hint

Pollution of river systems

It is hunted for bushmeat

It is hunted for its fur

Local fishermen kill them to protect fish stocks

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Question 10 of 10

10. The largest concentration of the UK population of otters live in which islands? Hint

Orkneys

Inner Hebrides

Outer Hebrides

Shetlands

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Otters are members of which animal family?

Answer: Mustelidae

Otters are members of the same family as weasels, stoats, polecats, ferrets and badgers. They are collectively known as mustelids.

2. One of the most widespread species of otter is the eurasian otter which occurs across Europe, Asia and North Africa. What is its latin name?

Answer: Lutra lutra

The eurasian otter is the species that is native to Britain. Once relatively common the otter suffered through loss of habitat and pollution of the rivers. Thanks to environmental policies and a management plan it is now making a comeback across large parts of the British Isles.

3. Which species of otter found in South America is the largest and can grow up to six feet long?

Answer: Giant otter

Thought to be less than 5,000 left in the wild the giant otter was hunted for its velvety pelt. There are also very few in captivity (around 60) however, an otter sanctuary in the UK recently managed to get a pair to breed.

4. Which of these has not been used to describe the smell of otter spraints (droppings)?

Answer: Bananas

Spraints are one of the best ways of finding otters. The spraints themselves can tell you a lot about sex, environment, feeding habits, and their habits in general.

5. Fishermen in Bangladesh have trained otters to chase fish into their nets.

Answer: True

This was once a widespread practice that was passed down from father to son throughout many communities in Asia. This is a similar use of a wild animal to the use of cormorants in China that are used in fishing by locals.

6. Which religion considers it taboo to kill an otter?

Answer: Zoroastrism

Zoroastrians believe otters belong to Ahura Mazda, a divinity of the Old Iranian religion who was proclaimed the uncreated God by Zoroaster, the founder of Zoroastrianism.

7. What does an otter live in?

Answer: Holt

An otter's den is called a holt. Usually they live underground next to river banks. The creation of artificial holts has been one of the ways that otters have been encouraged to return to some of the areas where they had previously disappeared from.

8. Which species of otter is one of the few mammals that is capable of using tools?

Answer: Sea otter

The sea otter uses rocks to remove shell fish from the sea bed before then using them to break open the shells. It usually floats around on its back in the north eastern Pacific Ocean.

9. Apart from habitat destruction, what is the main reason that the sub-Saharan African Spotted necked otter is declining in numbers?

Answer: It is hunted for bushmeat

The Spotted-necked Otter (Hydrictis maculicollis), or Speckle-throated Otter lives in south and east Africa. Whilst not yet threatened its numbers are declining rapidly due to the need for food and people resorting to eating "bushmeat" or wild animals that are hunted to satisfy local demand.

10. The largest concentration of the UK population of otters live in which islands?

Answer: Shetlands

the UK population of otters fell by 95% in the second half of the 20th century. They managed to hold out best in the Scottish Islands - probably due to less land pressure and pollution.

Source: Author colpeakbagger

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