ScienceAges 8+15 questions

Animal Quiz

From the fastest runner on land to the animal with three hearts, this quiz is packed with facts about the creatures we share the planet with. It starts with ones most children know and ends with a few that stump grown-ups.

Read the questions and answers here, or host the quiz live: show it on a big screen and let everyone answer on their own phones, with points for quick answers and a podium at the end.

Join a game

The questions

  1. 1.Which is the fastest land animal?

    • AThe cheetah
    • BThe lion
    • CThe horse
    • DThe greyhound
    Show the answer

    The cheetah. A cheetah can sprint at around 100 km/h (over 60 mph) in short bursts.

  2. 2.How many legs does an insect have?

    • AFour
    • BSix
    • CEight
    • DTen
    Show the answer

    Six. All adult insects have six legs and three body parts: head, thorax and abdomen.

  3. 3.Which is the tallest animal in the world?

    • AThe elephant
    • BThe camel
    • CThe giraffe
    • DThe ostrich
    Show the answer

    The giraffe. A giraffe can grow taller than 5 metres, mostly thanks to its long legs and neck.

  4. 4.Dolphins are mammals.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. Dolphins breathe air, are warm-blooded and feed their young on milk, like all mammals.

  5. 5.What is a baby kangaroo called?

    • AA cub
    • BA kid
    • CA pup
    • DA joey
    Show the answer

    A joey. A newborn joey is tiny and grows in its mother's pouch for months.

  6. 6.What do giant pandas mainly eat?

    • ABamboo
    • BFish
    • CBerries
    • DInsects
    Show the answer

    Bamboo. Bamboo makes up almost all of a giant panda's diet, and they eat for many hours a day.

  7. 7.Which is the largest animal alive today, by weight?

    • AThe African elephant
    • BThe whale shark
    • CThe blue whale
    • DThe giant squid
    Show the answer

    The blue whale. A blue whale can weigh well over 100 tonnes, far more than any other animal alive today.

  8. 8.Bats are birds.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. Bats are mammals; they are the only mammals that can truly fly.

  9. 9.Which of these birds cannot fly?

    • AThe pelican
    • BThe penguin
    • CThe albatross
    • DThe swift
    Show the answer

    The penguin. Penguins cannot fly, but their wings work as flippers that make them superb swimmers.

  10. 10.What is a group of lions called?

    • AA pack
    • BA herd
    • CA flock
    • DA pride
    Show the answer

    A pride. A pride is usually several related lionesses, their cubs and one or a few males.

  11. 11.Which reptile is famous for changing the colour of its skin?

    • AThe chameleon
    • BThe tortoise
    • CThe crocodile
    • DThe python
    Show the answer

    The chameleon. Chameleons change colour using special skin cells, often to signal mood or to warm up.

  12. 12.How many hearts does an octopus have?

    • AOne
    • BTwo
    • CThree
    • DFour
    Show the answer

    Three. Two hearts pump blood through the gills and a third pumps it around the rest of the body.

  13. 13.What type of animal is a Komodo dragon?

    • AA lizard
    • BA snake
    • CA crocodile
    • DA dinosaur
    Show the answer

    A lizard. The Komodo dragon from Indonesia is the largest living lizard.

  14. 14.Which is the largest species of big cat?

    • AThe lion
    • BThe tiger
    • CThe jaguar
    • DThe leopard
    Show the answer

    The tiger. Tigers are the biggest cats; a large male can weigh more than 250 kg.

  15. 15.Roughly how long is an African elephant pregnant?

    • AAbout 6 months
    • BAbout 9 months
    • CAbout 22 months
    • DAbout 36 months
    Show the answer

    About 22 months. At around 22 months, elephants have the longest pregnancy of any land animal.

Play it live, everyone on their phones

Put the questions on a big screen, share the PIN, and the leaderboard keeps score. Change any question first — it becomes your own quiz.