Identify the Animal Quiz | Thematic Fun

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In April 1949, HMS Amethyst of Britain's Royal Navy came under fire from Chinese communist artillery during what became known as The Yangtze Incident. One member of the crew was subsequently awarded the Dickin Medal, sometimes called the "animal's Victoria Cross". His name was Simon, but what sort of animal was he?

Answer: Cat

Simon, a black and white tom, was believed to have been born in Hong Kong, where he was found and adopted by a young seaman who was serving aboard HMS Amethyst. When the ship was sent up the Yangtze to relieve another vessel then guarding the British Embassy it came under fire, with the loss of several members of the crew, and was then stranded for some months. Able Sea-cat Simon was himself badly wounded, and nursed back to health by the medical staff (once the human casualties had been attended). Simon then carried on with his duties of catching rodents and generally uplifting the morale of the stranded sailors. He was the first of his species to be awarded the Dickin Medal, but sadly died - still a young cat - before the presentation ceremony. He was buried in the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) cemetery in Ilford, near London, England.

Categories: Animals, History

2. In the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes", Calvin is a little boy. What sort of animal is his companion, Hobbes?

Answer: Tiger

Specifically, Hobbes is a stuffed toy tiger, who is brought to life by the imagination of young Calvin, enabling them to have many adventures together. Created by Bill Watterson, the daily comic strip featuring the two friends first appeared in newspapers in the US in 1985 and was subsequently featured in many papers worldwide. A number of books featuring the pair have also been published.

Category: Entertainment

3. How is the "bear of very little brain", who lives in the 100 Acre Wood along with many of his friends, best known to us?

Answer: Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh, whose formal name was Edward Bear, was the chief character in a number of stories written by A.A. Milne for his son Christopher Robin (who featured in some of the stories). Inspiration for Winnie came from a real Canadian black bear who resided in London Zoo, having been a regimental mascot for a Canadian unit during World War I. Named Winnipeg, after her human's home town, Winnie was left in the care of the zoo when the unit went to France. Young Milne's collection of stuffed animals also served as inspiration, resulting in memorable characters like Eeyore the donkey, Piglet, Kanga and baby Roo. Besides the books, Winnie the Pooh and his friends have been featured in both live action and animated movies and television programmes over the years.

Rupert Bear lived in Nutwood. Paddington came from Peru, and lived in London with the Brown family. Smokey Bear urges us to prevent wildfires.

Categories: For Children, Movies, Television

4. A World Heritage site in Alberta, Canada, that is representative of hunting techniques used by the indigenous people centuries and more ago, includes the name of what animal in its designation?

Answer: Buffalo

The place is Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, near Fort MacLeod, south of Calgary, Alberta. As has often happened in histories of North America's plains and prairies, the name is a bit of a misnomer, as the animals involved were actually bison, which once were plentiful in the area. The hunting method mentioned was to drive herds of bison towards the cliffs of the "jump" making retreat impossible. When the animals fell or jumped to escape their pursuers, the bodies would be harvested and made use of for food, clothing and shelter. Analysis of animal bones found at the base of the formation has led to the belief that such hunts were carried on here for about 6000 years.

Categories: Geography, History, World

5. What is the name of the part-wolf part-dog created by Jack London? The creature's name is also the title of the book.

Answer: White Fang

"White Fang" follows the title creature from birth, through many adventures both with humans and with wolves, to the story's eventual conclusion. Forced to fight other canines by one human, White Fang is seen to be vicious, but there is a possibility of second chances and a better life to follow. The setting is largely the far north, and London evokes the cold in many passages.

Black Beauty was a horse created by Anna Sewell. Red Rover is a children's game. Grey Goose is a brand of vodka.

Category: Literature

6. In the 1995 movie "Babe", James Cromwell plays Farmer Hoggett and Christine Cavanaugh voices the title character. Just what is Babe?

Answer: Pig

Not only is Babe a pig, she is a "sheep-pig" who has learned to herd sheep from her sheepdog friends, and proves herself to the farmer and other humans in competition. The farm animals all have speaking voices, some of which are provided by Hugo Weaving, Miriam Margolyes and Russi Taylor. A sequel, "Babe: Pig in the City" followed in 1998.

Category: Movies

7. Hindu deity Ganesha has the head of which animal?

Answer: Elephant

Ganesha is worshipped by most Hindu denominations, and also some followers of Jainism and Buddhism. His many attributes include being the Remover of Obstacles and the God of New Beginnings. Depictions of Ganesha almost always show him with an elephant's head, sometimes holding a broken tusk, often with a big belly, sometimes with multiple arms. His annual ten-day festival is called Ganesha Chaturthi, and usually falls in late August/early September.

Category: Religion

8. Attendees of a professional baseball game in Toronto might notice a character named Ace in a uniform with 0 on its back. What sort of creature is Ace meant to be?

Answer: Blue Jay

Ace became the Toronto Blue Jays' mascot in 2000, replacing the somewhat controversial former mascot BJ Birdy. Ace is an oversized, cartoonish blue jay costume, with a large head and a furry appearance. A number of people have performed inside the costume, with gymnastic ability being an asset.

Seagulls were a feature of the old Exhibition Stadium, but are less in evidence in the domed stadium. Toronto's basketball team, the Raptors, have the dinosaur-like Raptor as their mascot. The San Diego Chicken has been mascot of that city's Padres since the 1970s.

Category: Sports

9. What two animals are represented in the main cast of television's "Party of Five" (1994-2000)?

Answer: Fox and Wolf

The two older sons of the Salinger clan were played by Matthew Fox (Charlie) and Scott Wolf (Bailey) in this series that followed the lives of a family of five who are orphaned by a drunk driver. They attempt to stay together and run the family restaurant, finish school, parent the youngest sibling, fight cancer and alcoholism and all the other day to day things that make up a life. Neve Campbell and Lacey Chabert played sisters Julia and Claudia and twins Andrew and Steven Cavarno played toddler Owen Salinger.

Category: Television

10. Who is the blue video game hedgehog who can run faster than the speed of sound, and who curls into a ball to defeat his enemies?

Answer: Sonic

Sonic doesn't really look much like a hedgehog, at least to my eyes, but that's his identity. He has been around since 1991 as protagonist of his self-titled video game series, by Sega, and has also been featured in comics and novels.

The incorrect choices are all birds from "Angry Birds".

Category: Video Games

Source: Author spanishliz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Identify the Animal Trivia Quiz

Here are ten questions from various categories, all relating somehow to an animal. Your task is to identify each animal, either by name or by type of creature.

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