The Outside Matters Too Trivia Quiz

Answer: Chitin

Chitin is a carbohydrate, not a protein, but serves much the same purpose as proteins such as keratin. In organisms such as insects, arachnids and crustaceans, chitin makes up the protective exoskeleton. Exoskeletons are not always made from chitin, however, as bone and dentine can perform the same function.

Chitin is also the substance which makes up the cell walls of fungal cells.

Answer: The electric catfish

The electric catfish is an elongated fish found in the tropical waters of Africa. Like the electric eel, this fish discharges electricity to stun prey or deter predators. However, unlike the eel, the electric catfish produces a large potential difference using special cells found in their skin.

Electric eels can produce shocks of up to 500 V. Curiously, electric eels are not true eels, and obtain up to 80% of their oxygen from breathing air.

Answer: The sea otter

The sea otter has more hair in one square centimetre of its body than a human has on his entire head (100,000+). Sea otters need such dense fur so as to keep themselves warm, as they spend almost all of their time in the water. This distinguishes the sea otter from other otters, which live on both land and in water.

Answer: The honey badger

The skin of the honey badger is very loose, meaning it can literally move about within itself.

As mentioned in the question, this animal is known for tussling with other, often much larger, animals. The honey badger actually holds the Guinness world record for being the most fearless animal (it even took home the gold medal in my "Animalympics" quiz for its fighting ability ;)).

Answer: True

The order which butterflies and moths belong to - Lepidoptera - actually means "scale wing". The tiny scales of the butterfly are not limited to their wings, but are also found on their heads, legs and thoraxes.

Answer: A shark

Placoid scales are responsible for the rough, abrasive texture of a shark's skin. Unlike other types of scale (cosmoid, ganoid and leptoid), placoid scales do not grow as the animal grows, but instead the number of scales covering the animal simply increases.

Sharks' skin can be used to make a type of leather called shagreen, and can even be used as a replacement for sandpaper.

Answer: The musk ox

The fur of the musk ox is double layered. There is a short, bushy undercoat, and an outer (or "guard") coat. It is the hair of this outer coat which can grow to lengths of up to three feet. Whilst providing warmth for these animals, this long hair poses a problem, as the animal's own faeces often become entangled in it.

The musk ox is named for the musky smell which is emitted by the animal when trying to find a mate.

Answer: A duck

The feathers used for insulation are contour feathers, which are small and fluffy, and which cover the bodies of birds. They are very different in appearance to flight feathers, which are longer and can be found on the wings and tails of birds.

The feathers of the eider duck are incredibly good at keeping in heat, and are plucked from the mother's breast to line their nests. David Attenborough, in his 1979 "Life" series, said that, at that time, man had failed to come up with a material that could insulate heat better than the feathers of the eider duck.

Answer: True

This scale (or brille or spectacle) is clear and covers the entire area of the eye. This compensates for the snake's lack of eyelids, which distinguishes it from other reptiles, such as the slow worm.

The rattle of a rattlesnake is made from unshed scales.

Answer: To remove excess hair/fur in the summer

Perhaps the best examples of grooming are seen in groups of primates. For example, chimps and gorillas spend much of their time grooming. The individual who is groomed the most will be the most dominant member of the group.

Skin, as well as fur, is significant in primates when it comes to social interaction. Many great apes have bare faces, allowing their numerous and complex facial gestures to be clearly communicated with one another.

Whilst grooming, the sea otter (which we met earlier in this quiz) will blow into its dense fur, trapping bubbles of air, which acts to insulate the animal.