Tanzania's Unbeatable Ungulates Quiz

Answer: mouth shape

The "white" in the common name of Cerathoterium simum, the white rhino, is very probably a distortion of the Afrikaans word "wyd" - meaning "wide", and referring to the wide, square shape of this hulking animal's upper lip. The other African rhinoceros species, Diceros bicornis - whose prehensile upper lip has a hooked shape - was named "black" for contrast. In fact, the skin colour of both rhinos ranges from brownish-yellow to slate-grey. The black rhino is considerably smaller than the white (which is the second-largest extant land animal), though more aggressive; its front horn can grow to a length of 140 cm (55 in). Both African species have two horns, while Asian rhinos only have one.

White rhinos do not live in Tanzania; the subspecies of the black rhino found there is the eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli). The black rhinoceros as a whole is listed by IUCN as Critically Endangered (2020); three subspecies, including the western black rhino, have been declared extinct. Trophy hunting and poaching are the biggest threats to these fascinating animals.

Answer: plains

Three species of zebra live on the African continent: Grevy's zebra, the mountain zebra, and the plains zebra. The latter (Equus quagga) is smaller than Grevy's zebra, but larger than the mountain zebra; it is also the most abundant species of the distinctively-striped equine.

Named after 19th-century Scottish explorer James Augustus Grant, Grant's zebra (Equus quagga boehmi) is the smallest of the seven subspecies of plains zebra, found in parts of East and Southern Africa. These animals prefer habitats - such as grasslands and sparsely wooded savanna - that provide them with plentiful grasses, their favourite food. They are social creatures, often forming large herds, which offer protection from predators; being nomadic rather than territorial, they also participate to the great annual migration that sees hundreds of thousands of ungulates travel from the Serengeti to Maasai Mara in southwestern Kenya. All subspecies of the plains zebra are classified by IUCN as Near Threatened (2016) because of climate change and human activity - especially hunting and military conflict.

Zebras and rhinos belong to the order Perissodactyla, the odd-toed ungulates; all the other mammals mentioned in this quiz belong to the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates.

Answer: gnu

It is estimated that at least 1.5 million blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) inhabit the plains of East and Southern Africa, where they feed on the short grasses that grow abundantly in savanna grasslands. Adult blue wildebeest can be various shades of grey, often with a bluish tinge - hence their common name; the specific name "taurinus" (bull-like) comes from their heavy build and distinctively-shaped horns, which are reminiscent of cattle rather than other antelope species.

Like other ungulates that live in the same environment, blue wildebeest tend to band together in large, loose groups. Though they can run very fast (up to 80 km/h, or 50 mph), they are vulnerable to attacks by predators such as lions, leopards and hyenas; they are also prone to a variety of diseases, some of which can be transmitted to domestic cattle. Three populations of blue wildebeest take part in annual long-distance migrations in order to look for better pastures; the best-known of these migrations, which is also a big tourist attraction, takes place between the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara.

The name "wildebeest" means "wild beast" in Afrikaans; "gnu" comes from the indigenous Nama (Khoekhoe) language, probably imitating the grunting sound these animals make when alarmed. The other species of wildebeest, the black wildebeest, bears the binomial name of Connochaetes gnou.

The gaur is the largest member of the Bovidae family; the guppy is a fish, and the gila is one of two venomous lizard species.

Answer: deer

There are eight subspecies of hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus), found in various parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Kongoni is the Swahili name given to the subspecies native to Kenya and Tanzania, Coke's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii). This large antelope's common name, given to the species by the Boers, means "deer beast" in Afrikaans, and is based on the supposed resemblance of this animal to deer (which is also hinted at by the generic name "Alcelaphus", meaning "elk-deer"). Indeed, the hartebeest's elongated forehead, long legs and reddish-brown coat are reminiscent of certain deer species; its horns, however, have a characteristic lyre shape.

Like other antelope species, hartebeest favour savanna grasslands, where they find ample nourishment. They live in herds that can number hundreds of animals, and are always alert to the dangers posed by predators - including humans, who hunt them as trophy animals or for their meat. Each hartebeest subspecies is classified separately by IUCN: Coke's hartebeest is listed as Least Concern (2016), though its numbers have been decreasing because of habitat loss.

Goats and sheep belong to the family Bovidae, the same as antelopes, while deer (Cervidae) are a separate family of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Horses are odd-toed ungulates (Perissodactyla), and are not ruminants.

Answer: Judaism

A native of East and southern Africa, the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is closely related to the world's largest antelope, the common eland. Its generic name means "goat-stag", while the specific name means "twisting horn", referring to the animal's most prominent feature; "kudu" is the species' name in the Khoekhoe language. Though not as large as elands, kudus are among the biggest antelope species; the impressive horns of adult males generally have two and a half twists, slanting from the head almost in a V shape. Greater kudus are mainly woodland dwellers, and as such are both browsers and grazers; they also need a lot of water, and often travel long distances in order to find it.

Farming and deforestation have had a negative impact on greater kudus, which are also targeted by poachers for their meat and beautiful horns. However, as populations are stable, the species is listed by IUCN as Least Concern (2016).

The shofar is a ritual horn that is sounded during synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and other solemn occasions. According to the Talmud, it can be made from the horns of any male animal of the Bovidae family; though a ram's horn is most commonly used, kudu horns are highly prized because of the deep, reverberating sound they produce. Shofars made from kudu horns typically come from Yemen.

Answer: oryx

The beisa, or East African oryx (Oryx beisa), is one of four species of oryx, three of which are native to Africa, and one to the Arabian Peninsula. Oryxes are large antelopes, characterized by long, almost straight horns (except for the scimitar oryx of North Africa) and dark markings on the face and legs. The East African oryx has two subspecies, the common beisa (Oryx beisa beisa) and the fringe-eared oryx (Oryx beisa callotis), which is the one found in Tanzania; a closely related species, very similar in appearance, the gemsbok (Oryx gazella), lives in Southern Africa.

All species of oryx dwell in semidesert and steppe environments, and are able to survive for a long time without water: in order to conserve water, they can raise their body temperatures to avoid perspiration. Like most other antelope species, oryxes live in herds of varying sizes. Their rapier-like horns are a dangerous weapon, even against fierce predators such as lions and leopards. Unfortunately, they are also prized by trophy hunters, which has led to the near extinction of both the Arabian and the scimitar oryx. Both subspecies of East African oryx are classified as Endangered by IUCN (2018).

The okapi is a close relative of the giraffe, while the olingo is a small carnivorous mammal related to the raccoon. The oriole, on the other hand, is a small blackbird native of North America.

Answer: Kilimanjaro

The Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchii) is named after the Masai (or Maasai) ethnic group of Kenya and northern Tanzania; it is also known as Kilimanjaro giraffe, after the dormant volcano that is Africa's highest mountain. The largest of the nine recognized subspecies of giraffe, the Masai giraffe is the tallest land animal on earth. It is distinguished by the peculiar, jagged shape of the spots that cover its body, extending to the hooves. The Masai giraffe is found in forest, savanna and shrubland habitats, where it feeds on leaves, fruits and flowers of shrubs and trees - mostly acacia species.

Unfortunately, poaching and habitat loss have caused a considerable decline in these magnificent animals' populations; therefore, the Masai giraffe is listed by IUCN as Endangered (2018).

The hint refers to Ernest Hemingway's 1936 short story, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro".

Answer: boss

The largest subspecies of the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), the Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) is found in East and Southern Africa, where it dwells in forests, swamps and grasslands, close to sources of water. In spite of its common name, it is not closely related to the Asian water buffalo, and has never been domesticated. The Cape buffalo is shorter than its Asian counterpart, but has a long, heavyset body. Bulls can weigh over 900 kg (1,984 lb), and are characterized by huge, curved horns whose bases are fused together to form a bone shield called "boss". These bulky animals are very efficient grazers, their wide muzzle and large incisor teeth enabling them to take big bites of grass. They are very gregarious in nature, and form herds that are capable of fending off even large predators such as lions.

With ominous nicknames such as "Widowmaker" or "Black Death", the Cape buffalo has a nasty reputation all over its range, though the numbers of humans killed by it every year are probably exaggerated. A coveted prize for big-game hunters, it is a fearsome adversary that can become extremely dangerous if wounded. The Cape buffalo is listed by IUCN as Near Threatened (2018) because of human activity and climate change.

"Big Five" is the name given to Africa's most dangerous game animals: the lion, the leopard, the elephant, the rhino and the Cape buffalo.

Answer: whale

A semi-aquatic, mostly herbivorous mammal, the hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius) is the third-largest land animal after the African elephant and the white rhino. Though once widespread in all of sub-Saharan Africa, as well as Egypt (where they are now extinct), hippos are now found in a fraction of their original range. Of this hulking animal's five subspecies, the one found in Tanzania is known as great northern or Nile hippopotamus.

In spite of their bulk and short legs, hippos can run very fast (30 km/h, or 19 mph), and their charges can be deadly. Aggressive and unpredictable (especially when their young are around), they are best left alone: they reportedly kill hundreds of people every year, and in some parts of Africa they are more feared than lions or crocodiles. On the other hand, humans have hunted hippos for their meat and the ivory of their huge canine teeth since prehistoric times, causing a sharp decline in their numbers. Hippos are listed by IUCN as Vulnerable (2016): besides hunting and habitat loss, climate change and military conflict also threaten their survival.

Although for a long time hippos were believed to be related to swine, cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are their closest relatives.

Answer: birds

A denizen of the savanna grasslands and woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, the common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a medium-sized wild pig; the subspecies found in Tanzania is the Central African warthog (Phacochoerus africanus massaicus). Warthogs are characterized by two pairs of tusks protruding from its mouth, used as defense against predators, or to dig for roots and tubers. The warts their common name refers to are bumps of tissue on the snout that act as a shield during fights. With their sparse coat and absence of subcutaneous fat, warthogs are vulnerable to extreme temperatures, and often wallow in mud to cool down - much like their domestic counterparts. They are also known for living in burrows, which they enter backwards.

Like most members of the pig family (Suidae), warthogs are omnivorous: however, though they will eat insects and other small invertebrates, and occasionally even carrion, they do not prey on birds or other warm-blooded creatures, and most of their diet is plant-based. Though hunted for their meat and tusks, warthogs are listed by IUCN as Least Concern (2016).

The hilarious character of Pumbaa in Disney's "The Lion King" (1994) is a warthog who is best friends with the meerkat Timon; its name means "foolish" in Swahili, Tanzania's most widely spoken language.