Penguins of the Serengeti Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hyena

The aardwolf is a type of specialized hyena that feeds on termites. "Aard" is the Africaans word for earth and thus the aardwolf is the "earth wolf". Aardwolves are about the same size (20-30 lbs.) as a US or UK fox and resemble a miniature spotted hyena. The aardwolf, like the unrelated but similarly named aardvark, forages at night for termites. Aardwolves often follow aardvarks in the Serengeti, allowing the aardvark to locate and damage the termite mound, the aardwolves then sharing the scattering insects. The aardwolf is one of the more reclusive animals on the Serengeti and they tend to live in burrows in pairs. As aardwolves are not generally affected by human development, they have not experienced a decrease in their territory or populations over the last fifty years.

Aardvarks are a member of the family of ungulate animals and are a closer relative to the elephant and warthog than the aardwolf. Servals are a small African cat found in the Serengeti that are about the same size as the aardwolf. The zorilla is a fascinating creature that is a member of the weasel family and is often called the African polecat or African skunk.

Answer: Sun bear

"Ursidae" is of course the family that includes the eight remaining bear species. The sun bear, or "honey bear", is the smallest of the true bears and generally does not weigh more than 120-150 lbs. The name is taken from the bear's orange, yellow or white colored markings on its chest and not from any preference for being in the sun. On the contrary, sun bears are mostly nocturnal and rarely see the daylight sky. Sun bears are omnivores and feed primarily on termites, ants, honey and jungle fruit. The sun bear's long tongue is an efficient tool to forage for honey and termites in tree crevices.


The sun bear is found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia including the Indonesian Islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Because sun bears are denizens of the deep rainforest, estimates of their population in the wild are at best, guesses. Habitat destruction from logging and farming have caused the numbers of bears to fall. Unfortunately, the sun bear is seen as a vulnerable species and is one of the six bear species threatened with extinction.

Answer: Snow leopard

The high mountain ridges of the Gobi are one of the last refuges for the rare snow leopard. While isolated snow leopards can be found throughout the mountainous areas of Asia, the snow leopard population is decreasing and the beautiful creature has been on the endangered species list since the 1970s.

As is usually the case with wide ranging carnivores, the number one threat to their survival is human population growth and habitat encroachment. In addition, the unique and lovely pelt of the snow leopard is of great value to poachers and furriers alike. Snow leopards are protected by the Mongolian government as part of the large Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park.

Answer: Fennec fox

The family Canidae, or canids, are mostly carnivorous mammals that include all domestic dogs, wolves, foxes, jackals and coyotes. The Saharan desert fennec fox is the smallest of all canids. Fennec foxes are named from the Arabic word for fox "fanac", and are distinguished by their large ears that serve to help dissipate body heat in the oppressive desert.

Indeed, the ears of a fennec fox are considered the largest set of ears compared to total body size of any land-based animal in the world. The fennec fox usually weighs less than three pounds and feeds on insects and small rodents using its powerful ears to sense prey in a manner similar to bats. Due to its small size and unique appearance, fennec foxes are kept as human pets in many areas.

Answer: Narwhal

Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) are mid-sized whales living in the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean near the top of the world and roam between Greenland and the northern Russian waters. Narwhals usually grow to a size of 12-20 ft. in length and closely match their closest relative the beluga whale. The narwhal is named for its black and white patched skin that looked so like the bodies of dead seaman to Norse sailors that they named the animal the corpse "nar" whale.

The most distinguishing feature of narwhals is the unique spiraled tooth (commonly if inaccurately called a tusk) that projects from their heads. In males, the long tooth can reach up to 10 ft. in length and will regrow if broken or worn. Scientists are not certain of the purpose of the tooth. Some believe the feature is an ornament to attract females for mating. Other researchers contend the tusk is used as a weapon for fighting rivals as in land based horned animals. My favorite theory is that the tooth is sensitive and provides the narwhale with knowledge of changes in water temperature and pressure. As with other cetaceans, narwhals generally travel in extended family pods that may be as large as several hundred members. Narwhals are legally hunted by Inuit tribes for food and skins, and otherwise face danger from walruses and orcas. Narwhal tusks are unfortunately also prized by poachers because of their rare and unique beauty.

Answer: Red kangaroo

Quokkas are a marsupial of the family Macropodidae that also includes the kangaroo and wallaby species. As with other Australian marsupials, post birth quokkas babies (also called "joeys") live in their mother's pouch for up to six months. Koalas are also a type of marsupial and thus are not a true bear, but belong to the family Phascolarctidae. Koalas are actually closer in relation to wombats then quokkas or kangaroos.

Quokkas are smaller marsupials, one to two feet in length and five to ten pounds in weight. As such, early descriptions of the quokka claimed the animals were large rodents. Quokkas love the heat and are at home primarily on Western Australian islands. Before Australia was settled by Europeans, quokkas were widespread on the mainland and related islands. European settlers introduced new predators like cats, foxes and dogs adding to existing quokka predators like raptor birds and dingoes. Quokkas are now considered a threatened species.

Answer: Drink

Kangaroo rats are small rodents with a large (for its overall size) head and eyes, external cheek pouches for food storage, and extremely long tails. The kangaroo rat has evolved to thrive in the waterless deserts of Death Valley California and similar areas of the southwest US.

A kangaroo rat will thrive despite not drinking any water, obtaining all the moisture it needs from its diet of seeds. The rodents evade predators by having strong hearing and the ability to jump up to nine feet in a single leap. To further conserve water the kangaroo rats do not sweat and their kidneys use nearly no water to process waste. During sleep, the rodents place their face against their fur in a way that traps the moisture leaving their mouths or noses, avoiding further moisture loss from breathing.

Answer: Barbary ape

Barbary apes (Macaca sylvan) are the only wild monkeys found in Europe. The Barbary ape is not a true ape, but is of the family "Cercopithecidae" which includes lemurs and most monkey species. The Barbary ape is most closely related to the Asian macaque and would taxonomically be correctly labeled as the Barbary macaque.

There is archaeological evidence to suggest that Barbary apes or related cousins lived in continental Europe at some time; but today's Gibraltar population traces its roots to individuals imported from Algeria and Morocco.

A local legend says that the British will keep the fortress of Gibraltar as long as the apes remain. Although only a superstition, the apes are nonetheless protected by the British government. Barbary apes are about two feet in size, are herbivores and have no tail.

Answer: Galapagos penguin

Galapagos Penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus) are one of the seventeen penguin species found in the world, but the only species that makes its primary home north of the equator. The Galapagos penguin is one of the four "banded" penguin species along with its close relatives the Humboldt, Magellanic and African black-footed (also called the jackass) penguin.

The Galapagos is one of the smallest penguin species and also one of the most threatened; penguin experts believe there are less than 1000 breeding pairs left.

In the water, the penguins face traditional predators such as sharks, fur seals and sea lions; but also face danger from overheating, starvation, or predation by man-introduced predators of cats, dogs and rodents on land. Like other penguin species, the Galapagos penguins generally mate for life and exhibit common penguin traits of joint chick raising and egg protection.

Answer: King penguins

King penguins are the second largest penguin species and along with Emperor penguins, make up the genus "Aptenodytes" or "great penguins". King penguins are beautiful birds that have the distinctive white chest with yellow and bright orange marked faces. King penguins live in large colonies on the South Georgia, South Sandwich and Falkland Islands situated between Antarctica and the tip of South America.

South Georgia Island is often referenced as the "Serengeti of the South Atlantic" because the vast colonies of penguins and herds of sea mammals that live virtually untouched by human interference are reminiscent of the incredible gatherings of animals in the African veldt.