Animal Estimation Questions: How Fast Is a Cheetah, Really?
How fast is a cheetah, actually? And how long does a parrot live? Animal estimation questions are the perfect way into a quiz, no matter who's playing. Kids know the animals, adults know them too, and almost nobody has the real numbers memorized. You guess, everyone else guesses, and whoever lands closest wins the point. Works great at the dinner table, on a road trip, or during a low-key evening with friends. The questions here are hand-picked, cover mammals, birds, insects, and sea life, and hide plenty of aha-moments in plain sight.
Start Animals quizWhy animal estimation works for every age group
Animals are the universal quiz topic. Everyone knows elephants, dogs, dolphins, eagles. The baseline knowledge is evenly spread. What's missing is the specific numbers: how heavy, how old, how fast. That's exactly where the estimation format shines. Example: "How fast can a tuna swim?" Nobody has the number ready. But everyone senses whether it's bicycle speed or car speed. (Spoiler: car speed, up to 70 km/h or 43 mph.) When the answer lands, it instantly gets paired with a mental image. That's what sticks.
Animal facts people rarely guess right
The best animal estimation questions are the ones where your gut is way off: A hummingbird's heart beats up to 1,260 times per minute, about 20 times the human rate. A sea turtle can live past 100 years. A blue whale eats up to 4 tons of krill per day. Cockroaches can survive roughly 9 days without a head. A house mouse can jump up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches), ten times its own body length. Numbers like these are why animal categories always dominate in quizzes. You don't know the answer, but you sense the direction, and you're almost always surprised.
Animal quiz for families: what fits which age?
Animals are universal enough that age boundaries blur. Rough guide: Ages 3 to 6: even early visual questions work. "How big is an elephant?" or "How many legs does a spider have?" Kids estimate with the image, not the number. Ages 6 to 12: the sweet spot. "How fast does a cheetah run?", "How old does a dog get?", "How heavy is a blue whale?" Ages 12 and up: more exotic facts, cross-species comparisons, lifespans and feeding quantities. Animal quizzes hold up just as well for adults.
How to build animal questions into family night
Animal questions need zero prep, that's their biggest advantage. Open QuizTimate, pick the animals category, and you're ready to go. Especially good with young kids: let them answer with a range ("between 10 and 30 miles per hour"), then anyone who doesn't nail the exact number can still score. Tip: for younger kids, pair each question with a quick image or short clip of the animal if you can. The guessing moment gets much more tangible when they've just seen a cheetah in motion. One phone is enough, and the round lasts as long as you want.
All 194 Animals questions with answers
How many bones does a giraffe's neck have?
Answer: 7
A giraffe's neck has only 7 bones. That is the same number as in a human neck. But each single bone is up to 25 centimeters long. Thanks to these long neck bones, the giraffe's head can reach the highest leaves.
See the question in the quiz →How many months does a kangaroo joey stay in its mother’s pouch?
Answer: 8
A kangaroo joey stays in its mother's pouch for about 8 months. At birth, it is as tiny as a cherry. It crawls into the pouch on its own and latches onto a teat. There it grows in the warmth until it is big enough to come out.
See the question in the quiz →How many times can a hummingbird flap its wings per second?
Answer: 80
A hummingbird flaps its wings up to 80 times per second. This makes its flight sound like a soft hum. It can even fly backwards and hover right in place. No other bird in the world can do that. Its tiny heart beats over 1,000 times per minute.
See the question in the quiz →How many years can a parrot live?
Answer: 50+
A parrot can live for more than 50 years. Big macaws even reach 70 to 80 years. That makes them some of the longest-living birds in the world. A parrot often stays in a home longer than its owner, and some are passed on to family members.
See the question in the quiz →How many fingers does a sloth have on each hand?
Answer: 3
The three-toed sloth has 3 fingers on each hand, which is how it got its name. Its claws are long and curved like hooks. They let it hang from branches and stay safe up in the trees. The two-toed sloth, as its name suggests, has only 2 fingers.
See the question in the quiz →How many humps does a Bactrian camel have?
Answer: 2
A Bactrian camel has 2 humps on its back. The humps store fat, not water, as many people think. The dromedary, in contrast, has only one hump. Bactrian camels live in the cold deserts of Central Asia.
See the question in the quiz →How many teeth does an adult dog have?
Answer: 42
An adult dog has 42 teeth in its mouth. Puppies start with only 28 milk teeth. The strong canine teeth are used to grab prey. The molars in the back can even crush bones. A human, in comparison, has only 32 teeth.
See the question in the quiz →How many years can a Galápagos tortoise live?
Answer: 100+
A Galápagos tortoise can live for more than 100 years. The oldest known tortoise, named Harriet, lived to 175 years. It feeds on cactus, grass, and fruit. Charles Darwin studied these animals on the Galápagos Islands in 1835.
See the question in the quiz →How many legs does a spider have?
Answer: 8
A spider has eight legs. That is why it belongs to the arachnids and not to the insects. Insects always have only six legs. At the tips of its legs are fine hairs. With those, the spider feels every little movement in its web.
See the question in the quiz →How many eyelids does a camel have per eye?
Answer: 3
A camel has three eyelids per eye. Two are normal lids like a human has. The third lid is thin and almost see-through. It wipes sand from the eye without blocking the view. This is how camels get through strong sandstorms.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of penguins exist?
Answer: 18
There are 18 penguin species in the world. All of them live in the southern hemisphere. Only the Galápagos penguin makes it almost to the equator. The biggest is the emperor penguin at over a meter tall. The smallest is the little penguin, about the size of a shoe.
See the question in the quiz →How many legs does a millipede have?
Answer: typically 80–400 (record: 1,306)
Millipedes actually have only 80 to 400 legs. So the name is misleading. In 2020, researchers in Australia discovered a species with more than 1,000 legs. It's called Eumillipes persephone. The record holder has 1,306 legs on about 100 body segments. The leg count grows with age. Each time a millipede molts, new segments are added.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of frogs exist worldwide?
Answer: ~7,000
There are around 7,000 frog species in the world. They live on almost every continent. Some are as small as a fly. The largest frog grows as heavy as a house cat. Many species are brightly colored. Their skin warns enemies about poisonous chemicals.
See the question in the quiz →How many toes do cats have in total?
Answer: 18
A cat has 18 toes in total. There are five on each front paw. There are only four on each back paw. Some cats are born with a few extra toes. These special cats are called Hemingway cats, named after the famous writer.
See the question in the quiz →How many stripes does a zebra have on average?
Answer: 300
A zebra has about 300 stripes on its body on average. Every zebra has its own pattern, a bit like a fingerprint. The stripes keep flies away and confuse predators during an attack. Scientists are still debating the exact purpose.
See the question in the quiz →How many claws does a crab typically have?
Answer: 2
A crab usually has 2 claws. One of them is often larger and used as a weapon. The smaller claw is used for eating and sorting through the sand. If a crab loses a claw, a new one grows back when it next sheds its shell.
See the question in the quiz →How many tentacles does a squid have?
Answer: 10
A squid has 10 arms, meaning 8 short ones and 2 longer tentacles. It uses the long tentacles to grab prey in a flash. The suckers have small horny rings that look like teeth. The giant squid can have arms over 10 meters long.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilograms can an ostrich egg weigh?
Answer: 1.5
An ostrich egg can weigh up to 1.5 kilograms. That is the biggest bird egg in the world. One single egg equals about 24 chicken eggs for breakfast. The shell is so hard that a person can stand on it without breaking it.
See the question in the quiz →How many vocalizations can a domestic cat produce?
Answer: 100
A domestic cat can make about 100 different sounds. Dogs only manage around 10 different sounds. Cats mostly meow for humans. Among themselves, they use body language and smells instead. Even the typical purring has many meanings.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers per hour can a cheetah run?
Answer: 120
A cheetah reaches up to 120 kilometers per hour. That makes it the fastest land animal in the world. In just three seconds, it is as fast as a sports car. Yet it can only keep up the sprint for a short time. After that, it must rest in the shade for a long while.
See the question in the quiz →How many fingers does a gorilla have on each hand?
Answer: 5
A gorilla has 5 fingers on each hand, just like a human. Its thumb can move across the palm too. That lets it grip tools, pick food, and build soft nests from leaves. Even its fingerprints are unique, exactly like ours.
See the question in the quiz →How many grams does a hummingbird typically weigh?
Answer: 4
A hummingbird usually weighs only 4 grams. That is about as light as a small coin. Still, its heart beats more than 1,000 times per minute. It must drink nectar all day long, or it would not have enough energy to fly.
See the question in the quiz →How many feathers does a swan have on average?
Answer: 25,000
A swan has about 25,000 feathers on average. That is more than almost any other bird. Most of the feathers sit on its long neck. They keep the swan warm and repel water. A chicken, by comparison, only has about 8,000 feathers.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of bears exist in the world?
Answer: 8
There are 8 species of bears in the world. They include the brown bear, polar bear, grizzly, and giant panda. The smallest is the sun bear from Southeast Asia. The largest is the polar bear, which can weigh up to 800 kilograms.
See the question in the quiz →How many claws does a tiger have in total?
Answer: 18
A tiger has 18 claws in total. On each front paw are five claws. On each back paw are only four. The tiger can pull the claws back like a pocket knife. That keeps them sharp and stops them from wearing down while walking.
See the question in the quiz →How many legs does a lobster have?
Answer: 10
A lobster has ten legs. The front two have turned into strong claws. With the thick claw, it cracks hard shells. With the slim claw, it grabs its prey. The other eight legs are for walking across the sea floor.
See the question in the quiz →How many hours can a camel survive without water?
Answer: 240
A camel can last about 240 hours without water. That is ten full days under the hot desert sun. Its hump does not store water but fat for energy. When it finally drinks, it slurps down more than 100 liters in a short time.
See the question in the quiz →How many months does a bear hibernate?
Answer: 5
A bear hibernates for about 5 months. During this time, it does not eat or drink. Its heart beats much slower, and its body uses very little energy. That is why in autumn, the bear eats until it has a thick layer of fat.
See the question in the quiz →How many times can a woodpecker peck per second?
Answer: 20
A woodpecker pecks the tree up to 20 times per second. The force on its head is like a car crash. Yet the bird never gets a headache. Its skull has small air pockets inside. Those act like a built-in shock absorber.
See the question in the quiz →How many meters long can a blue whale grow?
Answer: 30
A blue whale can grow up to 30 meters long. That is longer than three city buses in a row. It is the largest animal that ever lived on Earth, bigger than any dinosaur. Its heart alone is the size of a small car.
See the question in the quiz →How many pairs of wings does a bee have?
Answer: 2
A bee has two pairs of wings, which makes four wings in total. The front pair is larger than the back pair. In flight, both pairs hook together and beat like one big wing. They flap more than 200 times per second.
See the question in the quiz →How many years can a Greenland shark live?
Answer: ~400
A Greenland shark can live for about 400 years. That makes it the oldest vertebrate in the world. It lives deep in the icy northern seas. Its movements are extremely slow. A female only has her first offspring at around 150 years old.
See the question in the quiz →How many times can a rabbit's heart beat per minute?
Answer: 200
A rabbit's heart beats around 200 times per minute. That is about three times faster than a human heart. When the rabbit is scared, it beats even quicker. Small animals with small bodies almost always have a fast-beating heart.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers per hour can a peregrine falcon dive?
Answer: 390
A peregrine falcon can reach up to 390 kilometers per hour in a dive. That makes it the fastest animal in the world. To protect its eyes from the rushing wind, it has a third eyelid. With such force, it knocks its prey right out of the sky.
See the question in the quiz →How many hours a day do lions spend resting?
Answer: 20
Lions rest up to 20 hours a day. That saves energy for short, intense hunts. Most of the time the females hunt, while the males guard the territory. In the midday heat, they often lie in the shade of a tree.
See the question in the quiz →How many liters of water can an elephant drink in a day?
Answer: 200
On a hot day, an elephant can drink up to 200 liters of water. That fills a whole bathtub. It sucks up the water with its trunk and squirts it into its mouth. It also uses the trunk to shower itself and cool down.
See the question in the quiz →How many hours a day do koalas sleep?
Answer: 20
Koalas sleep up to 20 hours a day. Their main food is eucalyptus leaves, which give very little energy. That is why they rest so much to save their strength. The leaves are toxic to most animals, but koalas can digest them.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of jellyfish are known?
Answer: ~2,000
Scientists know around 2,000 species of jellyfish. Some are tiny, while others have tentacles up to 30 meters long. Jellyfish have no brain and no heart. They have lived in the oceans for more than 500 million years, longer than dinosaurs.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of snakes exist in the world?
Answer: ~3,000
There are about 3,000 species of snakes in the world. Only around 600 of them are venomous to humans. Snakes live on every continent except Antarctica. They are not found naturally in Ireland or New Zealand.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers can a Monarch butterfly migrate?
Answer: 4,000
A Monarch butterfly can migrate up to 4,000 kilometers. It flies from Canada all the way to a warm forest in Mexico. No other butterfly makes such a long trip. The distance is about the same as from New York to Los Angeles.
See the question in the quiz →How many teeth does an adult horse have?
Answer: 40
An adult horse usually has 40 teeth. Mares sometimes have a few less. Riders can roughly guess a horse's age from the wear on its teeth. That is also where the saying comes from about not looking a gift horse in the mouth.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of dolphins exist?
Answer: 40
There are around 40 species of dolphins. Most live in the sea, but some live in rivers. The bottlenose dolphin is the most famous one from films and aquariums. The killer whale, also called orca, is the largest dolphin in the world.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilograms does a newborn panda cub weigh?
Answer: 0.1
A newborn panda cub weighs only about 0.1 kilograms, so 100 grams. That is as much as a bar of chocolate. The mother herself weighs up to 100 kilograms, a thousand times more. The cub is pink, blind, and almost hairless.
See the question in the quiz →How many months is the gestation period of an elephant?
Answer: 22
An elephant baby grows for 22 months inside its mother. That is almost two years, the longest pregnancy of any land animal. At birth, the calf already weighs around 100 kilograms. The mother cares for her child for many years.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilograms does the largest lobster ever caught weigh?
Answer: 20.14
The heaviest lobster ever caught weighed 20.14 kilograms. It was pulled from the sea off Nova Scotia in 1977. Lobsters keep growing their whole lives. Very old ones can reach more than a hundred years of age.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of penguins are found in Antarctica?
Answer: 7
Seven penguin species live in Antarctica. The best known is the huge emperor penguin. There are also the Adélie, chinstrap, gentoo, king, rockhopper, and macaroni penguins. They breed on ice or rocky shores. In the freezing water, they hunt for fish and krill.
See the question in the quiz →How many centimeters long is the tongue of a giraffe?
Answer: 45
A giraffe's tongue is about 45 centimeters long. That is as long as a school notebook. Its color is dark blue to purple. This protects the tongue from sunburn. With it, the giraffe can even grab pointy leaves between thorns without getting hurt.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilograms does a newborn blue whale weigh?
Answer: 2,700
A newborn blue whale weighs about 2,700 kilograms. That is as heavy as a small car. It is the biggest baby in the world. Every day, the calf gains around 90 kilograms. After just one year, it is twice as long as at birth.
See the question in the quiz →How many decibels can a blue whale's call reach?
Answer: 188
A blue whale's call can reach up to 188 decibels. That makes it louder than a jet taking off. Under water, its song travels across thousands of kilometers. This is how blue whales find each other in the vast ocean.
See the question in the quiz →How many bones are in a snake’s body?
Answer: ~400
A snake has about 400 bones in its body. Almost all of them are vertebrae and ribs. A human only has around 206 bones in comparison. The many vertebrae make the snake extremely flexible. That is how it can squeeze through almost any gap.
See the question in the quiz →How many meters can a kangaroo jump in one leap?
Answer: 9
A kangaroo can cover up to 9 meters in a single leap. That is longer than a city bus at the stop. With its strong back legs, it bounces like on a pogo stick. The long tail keeps it balanced in the air.
See the question in the quiz →How many liters of milk does a cow produce per day?
Answer: ~30
A dairy cow produces about 30 liters of milk per day. That is enough for around 120 glasses of milk. Top-performing cows can even reach 50 liters or more. To do this, the cow eats about 70 kilograms of grass and feed every day.
See the question in the quiz →How many meters can an albatross glide without flapping its wings?
Answer: 15,000
An albatross can glide up to 15,000 meters without flapping its wings. It cleverly uses the wind above the ocean. With a wingspan of up to 3.5 meters, it has the largest wings of any bird. Some albatrosses circle the globe several times a year.
See the question in the quiz →How many spots does a typical adult ladybug have?
Answer: 7
A typical seven-spot ladybug has 7 spots on its wings. But there are also species with 2, 10, or 22 spots. The spots warn predators about the bitter taste. Ladybugs are seen as lucky charms in many countries.
See the question in the quiz →How many pounds can a bald eagle lift?
Answer: 4
A bald eagle can carry about 4 pounds, which is just under 2 kilograms. Its own body only weighs 4 to 6 kilograms. With its strong talons, it snatches fish out of the water. It is the national bird of the United States.
See the question in the quiz →How many eggs does a sea turtle lay in one nesting season?
Answer: ~100
A sea turtle lays around 100 eggs per nest in one season. Often she returns to the beach several times during the season. In total, she can lay up to 500 eggs. Only about one in 1,000 hatchlings reaches adulthood.
See the question in the quiz →How many hours a day does a giant panda spend eating?
Answer: 12
A giant panda eats for about 12 hours every day. Almost its entire diet is bamboo. It needs up to 38 kilograms of it daily. Bamboo contains very little energy. That is why the panda has to eat nearly all the time to stay full.
See the question in the quiz →How many days can a camel go without water?
Answer: 10
A camel can go about 10 days without water. Its body loses far less liquid than other animals do. In the fat of its hump, it stores extra energy. When it finally gets to drink, it gulps down huge amounts in just minutes.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilograms can a fully grown polar bear weigh?
Answer: 700
A fully grown polar bear can weigh up to 700 kilograms. That is as much as a small car. Males are much heavier than females. Under its white fur, the polar bear has a thick layer of fat. This keeps it warm in icy cold water.
See the question in the quiz →How many tentacles does a jellyfish have?
Answer: Varies, up to 800
Some jellyfish have up to 800 tentacles. The number depends on the species. The lion's mane jellyfish, for example, has flowing tentacles over 30 meters long. Every tentacle is covered with tiny stinging cells. They fire venom as soon as they touch prey.
See the question in the quiz →How many meters deep can a sperm whale dive?
Answer: 2,000
A sperm whale dives up to 2,000 meters into the sea. That is deeper than almost any other mammal can go. Down there, it hunts giant squid in complete darkness. A single dive can last more than an hour.
See the question in the quiz →How many eyes does a honeybee have?
Answer: 5
A honeybee has five eyes. Two large compound eyes sit on the sides of the head. Three tiny simple eyes sit on top of the forehead. Together they help the bee spot flowers, light, and even the position of the sun during flight.
See the question in the quiz →How many seconds does it take for a sloth to move one meter?
Answer: 30
A sloth takes about 30 seconds to cover a single meter. On the ground, it is even slower than up in the trees. Its body uses almost no energy. That is why it mostly eats leaves and sleeps up to 20 hours a day.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of bats exist worldwide?
Answer: ~1,400
There are around 1,400 bat species in the world. That means one in every five mammals is a bat. They live almost everywhere, except the cold polar regions. The smallest is tiny like a bumblebee. The largest has a wingspan of more than 1.5 meters.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers per hour can a rabbit run?
Answer: 50
A rabbit can run up to 50 kilometers per hour. That is faster than a car is allowed to drive in town. With strong back legs, it makes sharp sideways jumps. That helps it escape from foxes and birds of prey.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers per hour can an African wild dog run?
Answer: 60
An African wild dog can run up to 60 kilometers per hour. It hunts in a pack and keeps the pace for a long time. Its hunting success rate is around 80 percent. That makes it the most effective hunter in Africa, even better than a lion.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of ants are there worldwide?
Answer: ~12,000
There are around 12,000 known ant species worldwide. Scientists think the real number could be as high as 22,000. Together, all ants weigh almost as much as all humans. They live on every continent except Antarctica.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilograms does the heaviest dog breed weigh?
Answer: 90
The heaviest dog breed is the English Mastiff at up to 90 kilograms. That matches the weight of a grown man. Despite their size, mastiffs are very gentle and calm. Sadly, they usually live only 7 to 10 years.
See the question in the quiz →How many months does a dolphin stay pregnant?
Answer: 12
A dolphin is pregnant for about 12 months, so a full year. The baby is born underwater, tail first. The mother pushes it to the surface right away so it can breathe. Dolphin mothers care for their calves for several years.
See the question in the quiz →How many fingers do koalas have on each hand?
Answer: 5
A koala has 5 fingers on each hand. Two of them stick out like thumbs. This helps it grip branches very well. Its fingerprints look so similar to human ones that they can even confuse police investigators.
See the question in the quiz →How many eyes does a tarantula have?
Answer: 8
A tarantula has 8 eyes. Still, its eyesight is quite poor, mostly just light and shadow. It relies on fine hairs on its legs to sense the world. These hairs pick up the tiniest vibrations in the ground.
See the question in the quiz →How many teeth does an adult crocodile have?
Answer: 80
An adult crocodile has about 80 teeth in its jaws. If it loses a tooth, a new one grows back right away. Over its lifetime, it uses up to 3,000 teeth in total. Still, a crocodile cannot chew and swallows its prey whole.
See the question in the quiz →How many years does a domestic cat typically live?
Answer: 15
A domestic cat lives on average about 15 years. Indoor cats usually grow older than outdoor ones, because they face fewer dangers. The oldest known cat even reached 38 years. Good food, care, and vaccines help cats live long lives.
See the question in the quiz →How many liters of air can a dolphin hold in its lungs?
Answer: 15
A dolphin can hold about 15 liters of air in its lungs. That would fill many medium-sized plastic bottles. While diving, it uses up almost all of this air. A human only uses about a quarter of the lung air with each breath.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of crocodiles exist?
Answer: 23
There are 23 crocodile species in the world. This includes true crocodiles, alligators, and gharials. The biggest is the saltwater crocodile at over six meters long. The smallest reaches only about 1.5 meters. All crocodiles are very ancient animals, similar to the ones from dinosaur times.
See the question in the quiz →How many claws does a chicken have in total?
Answer: 8
A chicken has 8 claws in total. There are four on each foot. Three point forward and one points backward. This setup lets the chicken scratch the ground well. While scratching, it looks for grains, worms, and beetles.
See the question in the quiz →How many bones are in the human body compared to a shark?
Answer: 206 (human), 0 (shark)
A human has 206 bones, while a shark has 0. Instead, sharks have a skeleton made of cartilage, a soft supporting tissue. That keeps them light and agile in the water. Only their teeth are hard and can fossilize after death.
See the question in the quiz →How many hours can a polar bear swim without rest?
Answer: 232
A polar bear can swim for more than 232 hours without stopping, almost ten days straight. In this recorded record, a female bear covered 687 kilometers. Her thick fur and layer of fat keep her warm. Webbed toes make her a powerful swimmer.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers per hour can a greyhound run?
Answer: 72
A greyhound runs at up to 72 kilometers per hour. That makes it the fastest dog in the world. Its slim body and long legs are built for sprinting. On racetracks, greyhounds compete in wild races against each other.
See the question in the quiz →How many liters of milk does a blue whale calf drink per day?
Answer: 190
A blue whale calf drinks about 190 liters of milk every day. That would fill a whole bathtub. The mother's milk is very fatty and rich. Thanks to this, the calf gains several kilograms in just one hour. After six months, it is already many meters longer.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers can an Arctic tern migrate annually?
Answer: 71,000
An Arctic tern flies about 71,000 kilometers every year. That is the longest migration of any animal on Earth. It travels from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back each year. Over its lifetime, it covers more distance than three trips to the moon.
See the question in the quiz →How many years does it take for a giant clam to reach full size?
Answer: 100
A giant clam takes around 100 years to reach full size. By then, it can be over a meter wide. Its weight can be several hundred kilograms. It sits firmly in one spot on the coral reef. There, it filters its food straight out of the water.
See the question in the quiz →How many legs does a butterfly have?
Answer: 6
A butterfly has six legs. Like every insect, it has three pairs of legs. Really cool is its long tongue. It looks like a drinking straw that rolls up. The butterfly uses it to sip sweet nectar from deep inside flowers.
See the question in the quiz →How many times can a dolphin leap out of water in one minute?
Answer: 10
A dolphin leaps out of the water up to 10 times in one minute. This is called breaching. Jumping lets it move faster than swimming below the surface. Often, dolphins also leap just for fun or to call other dolphins.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilograms can a giant squid weigh?
Answer: 275
A giant squid can weigh up to 275 kilograms. That is as heavy as two grown men combined. Its arms and tentacles grow up to 13 meters long. It lives deep in the ocean. People rarely ever get to see one.
See the question in the quiz →How many pairs of wings does a dragonfly have?
Answer: 2
A dragonfly has two pairs of wings, which makes four wings in total. It can move each pair on its own. Because of that, it flies forwards, backwards, and even hovers in place. At up to 50 kilometers per hour, it is one of the fastest flying insects in the world.
See the question in the quiz →How many teeth does an adult pig have?
Answer: 44
An adult pig has 44 teeth in its mouth. That is more than a human has. Young piglets already start with sharp baby teeth. Later, strong grinding teeth grow in. With those, the pig chews everything, from apples to hard acorns.
See the question in the quiz →How many days can a snake go without eating?
Answer: 30+
A snake can go more than 30 days without food. Some large pythons can even survive a whole year between meals. Their bodies slow down energy use to a minimum. After a big meal, they rest and digest for many days.
See the question in the quiz →How many feathers does an average pigeon have?
Answer: ~10,000
An average pigeon carries around 10,000 feathers. Most of them keep the body warm. Others are long and strong and help with flying. In cold weather, the pigeon puffs up and creates a thick layer of air as protection.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers per hour can an emperor penguin slide on ice?
Answer: 6
An emperor penguin slides across the ice at about 6 kilometers per hour on its belly. That is faster than walking on two feet. The penguins push themselves along with flippers and feet. It saves them a lot of energy over long distances.
See the question in the quiz →How many liters of blood does a horse's heart pump per minute during exercise?
Answer: 280
During exercise, a horse's heart pumps up to 280 liters of blood per minute. That is more than a full bathtub in 60 seconds. At rest, it is only around 30 liters. This huge heart is one reason why horses can run for so long.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of fish are known?
Answer: ~33,000
Scientists know about 33,000 species of fish. That is more than all mammals, birds and reptiles combined. Every year, biologists find new species, especially in the deep sea. They range from tiny dwarf fish to the huge whale shark.
See the question in the quiz →How many eggs does a frog lay at one time?
Answer: 1,000+
A frog can lay more than 1,000 eggs at one time. Most of the eggs get eaten by fish and insects. Only a few tadpoles survive and grow into small frogs. The eggs usually float together as a jelly-like clump in the water.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers per hour can a horse gallop?
Answer: 88
A horse can gallop at up to 88 kilometers per hour. That record speed is only reached by racing thoroughbreds. A normal horse gallops at about 40 to 50 kilometers per hour. It cannot keep the top pace for longer than two minutes.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of parrots are there?
Answer: ~400
There are about 400 species of parrots worldwide. Almost all of them live in warm, tropical regions. Some parrots grow older than 50 years and can copy human words. The kakapo from New Zealand is the only parrot that cannot fly.
See the question in the quiz →How many seconds can a cheetah sustain its top speed?
Answer: 20
A cheetah can only hold its top speed for about 20 seconds. After that, its body overheats dangerously. It reaches up to 110 kilometers per hour, faster than any other land animal. After a sprint, it needs half an hour to recover.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilograms does the heaviest snake, the green anaconda, weigh?
Answer: ~250
The green anaconda weighs up to 250 kilograms. That makes it the heaviest snake in the world. It can grow up to 9 meters long and lives in the swamps of South America. It kills prey by squeezing, not with venom.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of owls exist worldwide?
Answer: ~200
There are around 200 species of owls in the world. They live on almost every continent except Antarctica. Owls can turn their heads up to 270 degrees. This makes up for the fact that they can barely move their eyes.
See the question in the quiz →How many grams does the smallest bird, the bee hummingbird, weigh?
Answer: 2
The bee hummingbird weighs only 2 grams. It is the smallest bird in the world and lives in Cuba. Its nest is no bigger than a coin. Its eggs are smaller than a pea. Still, its heart beats more than 1,000 times per minute.
See the question in the quiz →How many hours does a bat hunt for food at night?
Answer: 6
A bat usually hunts insects for about 6 hours each night. During that time, it often eats more than half its body weight. It finds prey with ultrasound, which are sounds humans cannot hear. A single bat can catch up to 1,000 mosquitoes per night.
See the question in the quiz →How many times does a dog's nose have more scent receptors than humans?
Answer: 40
A dog has about 40 times more scent receptors than a human. That lets it smell things we would never notice, even through walls. This is why dogs help police with searches. Some dogs can even detect diseases like cancer by smell.
See the question in the quiz →How many shark species exist today?
Answer: About 500
About 500 shark species are known today (more precisely around 540, per the IUCN Shark Specialist Group). The smallest is the Dwarf Lanternshark at just 20 centimeters. The largest is the Whale Shark, up to 12 meters long. About a third of all shark species are threatened. The main reasons are overfishing and the shark fin trade. Over 50 new shark species have been discovered since the year 2000.
See the question in the quiz →How many teeth does an adult great white shark have?
Answer: 300
An adult great white shark carries up to 300 teeth in its mouth. They sit in several rows, one behind the other. If it loses a tooth, a new one grows in right away. Over its lifetime, it uses up thousands of teeth.
See the question in the quiz →How many times does a cheetah's heart beat per minute when running at top speed?
Answer: 250
At top speed, a cheetah's heart beats 250 times per minute. At rest, it is only about 120 beats. Yet the sprint lasts only around 30 seconds. Otherwise the cheetah would overheat. Afterwards, it has to rest for a long time before it can hunt again.
See the question in the quiz →How many wings does a dragonfly have in total?
Answer: 4
A dragonfly has four wings, which makes two pairs. It can move each pair of wings on its own. That lets it fly forwards, backwards, and even hover still in the air. This way, it hunts mosquitoes and other insects right out of the air.
See the question in the quiz →How many eggs can a duck lay in one year?
Answer: 300
A duck can lay up to 300 eggs in one year. That is almost an egg a day. Chickens lay about the same number. Duck eggs are usually a bit bigger and taste richer. Wild ducks lay far fewer, because they only breed once a year.
See the question in the quiz →How many miles per hour can a greyhound run at its top speed?
Answer: 45
A greyhound reaches about 45 miles per hour, which is around 72 kilometers per hour. That makes it the fastest dog in the world. Only the cheetah is faster on land. People have bred greyhounds for racing for thousands of years.
See the question in the quiz →How many stomachs does a cow have?
Answer: 4
A cow has 4 stomachs. Each stomach has its own job in digesting grass. The cow brings up the food again and chews it a second time. This is called chewing the cud, and it helps break down the plant fibers.
See the question in the quiz →How many hours per day does a sloth sleep?
Answer: about 9.6 in the wild
Sloths have a reputation as champion sleepers, but that only holds in a zoo. In the wild a three-toed sloth sleeps only about 9.6 hours a day, barely more than a child. In captivity it is up to 16 hours. Researchers measured this with small recording devices on wild sloths in Panama.
See the question in the quiz →How many pounds can the largest elephant tusk weigh?
Answer: 220
The largest known elephant tusk weighed about 220 pounds, which is around 100 kilograms. It belonged to a male African elephant. Tusks keep growing throughout an elephant's life. Poaching for ivory still threatens these animals today.
See the question in the quiz →How many fish can a whale shark consume per day?
Answer: 2,000
A whale shark swallows up to 2,000 small fish each day. To feed, it opens its giant mouth and just keeps swimming forward. Water is pushed out through its gills and the prey gets caught. Even though it is huge, the whale shark is harmless to people.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of whales exist?
Answer: 90
There are around 90 whale species in the world. This group also includes dolphins and porpoises. The largest is the blue whale at over 30 meters long. The smallest is the vaquita porpoise, only 1.5 meters long. Some species live alone, others in big groups.
See the question in the quiz →How many liters of water can an adult giraffe drink in one go?
Answer: 45
An adult giraffe can gulp down up to 45 liters of water in one go. That is several big buckets. But drinking is dangerous for a giraffe. It has to spread its front legs wide and stretch its long neck down low. In that moment, it is easy prey for lions.
See the question in the quiz →How many eggs does a queen bee lay per day?
Answer: up to 2,000
In spring, a healthy queen bee lays up to 2,000 eggs a day. That's more than her own body weight. Each egg goes into its own comb cell. Fertilized eggs become worker bees or new queens. Unfertilized eggs become male drones. A queen can keep this up for three to five years. After that, the colony replaces her with a younger successor.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers per hour can an ostrich run?
Answer: 70
An ostrich runs away at up to 70 kilometers per hour. That makes it the fastest bird on land. It cannot fly, but its long legs are incredibly powerful. A single well-aimed kick from an ostrich could seriously injure a lion.
See the question in the quiz →How many months is a giraffe's gestation period?
Answer: 15
A giraffe is pregnant for about 15 months. That is almost twice as long as a human pregnancy. The calf is born while the mother stands and drops two meters to the ground. Within an hour, it can already walk and follow its mother.
See the question in the quiz →How many wings does a bee have in total?
Answer: 4
A bee has four wings in total. That is two pairs, a big front pair and a smaller back pair. In flight, the pairs hook together and beat as one. This lets the bee hover in place and even fly backwards.
See the question in the quiz →How many muscles does a human have in total?
Answer: 639
A human has about 639 muscles in total. They work all day long, even when we sleep. The strongest muscles sit in the bottom and the legs. The smallest ones are found inside the ear. Without muscles, we could not even blink.
See the question in the quiz →How many eggs can a kingfisher lay at one time?
Answer: 7
A kingfisher usually lays six to seven eggs at a time. The eggs are almost round and shiny white. They rest in a tunnel dug deep into the riverbank. Both parents take turns keeping them warm. After three weeks, the tiny chicks hatch.
See the question in the quiz →How many bones does a rat have in its body?
Answer: 230
A rat has about 230 bones in its small body. That is more than a human skeleton carries. Many of them sit in the long tail. Thanks to these flexible vertebrae, the rat keeps its balance while climbing.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of crocodiles exist in Africa?
Answer: 4
Africa is home to four crocodile species. The Nile crocodile is huge and can grow up to six meters long. The West African crocodile looks similar but is its own species. There is also the slender-snouted crocodile and the small dwarf crocodile. All of them hunt mostly at night and wait in the water for their prey.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of lions are there?
Answer: 1
There is only one lion species in the whole world. Its scientific name is Panthera leo. Within it, several subspecies exist. Examples are the African lion and the rare Asiatic lion in India. Lions once lived in Europe too.
See the question in the quiz →How many times can an owl rotate its head?
Answer: 270°
An owl can turn its head 270 degrees. That is three quarters of a full circle. Its eyes are fixed in the skull and can barely move. So the owl has to swivel its head that far around to look behind itself without moving its body.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers per hour can a black mamba snake slither?
Answer: 20
A black mamba can slither through the grass at up to 20 kilometers per hour. That makes it one of the fastest snakes in the world. Its name comes from the deep black color inside its mouth. Its venom is very strong and works within minutes.
See the question in the quiz →How many hours a day does a giraffe spend eating?
Answer: 16
A giraffe spends up to 16 hours a day eating. All day long, it chews leaves from tall trees. Its favorite meal is the acacia with its sharp thorns. Its thick tongue protects it from getting hurt. In one day, a giraffe eats about 30 kilograms of food.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of elephants exist?
Answer: 3
There are 3 species of elephants. The African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. For a long time, people thought there were only two. Genetic tests later proved that bush and forest elephants are separate species.
See the question in the quiz →How many bones does a dog have in its body?
Answer: 319
A dog has about 319 bones in its body. That is around 100 more bones than a human has. Many of them sit in the long tail and help it wag around. Puppies are born without kneecaps, which only grow in a few weeks later.
See the question in the quiz →How many muscles does a cat have in its ear?
Answer: 32
A cat has 32 muscles in each ear. For comparison, a human has only 6. That is why a cat can rotate its ears independently. This lets it hear sounds from every direction, even when it stays lazy on the couch.
See the question in the quiz →How many times does a giraffe's heart beat per minute?
Answer: 40
A giraffe's heart beats about 40 times per minute when it is calm. When running, the rate goes much higher. The heart weighs nearly 12 kilograms. It must pump blood all the way up the long neck, at very high pressure.
See the question in the quiz →How many legs does a tarantula have in total?
Answer: 8
A tarantula has 8 legs, like all spiders. It also has two small feelers at the front that look like short arms. It uses them to sense prey and its surroundings. Some tarantulas live up to 20 years, which is very long for a spider.
See the question in the quiz →How many years can a giant tortoise live?
Answer: 150
A giant tortoise can reach up to 150 years old. That makes it one of the longest-living animals in the world. Its slow metabolism spares the body. A famous tortoise named Harriet is said to have lived even 175 years.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of tigers exist?
Answer: 6
There were 9 known tiger subspecies, but only 6 live today. Three are already extinct, including the Javan tiger. The Siberian tiger is the largest cat in the world. It can weigh up to 300 kilograms and hunts in the snowy forests of Russia.
See the question in the quiz →How many species of wolves are there in the world?
Answer: 10
There are about 10 species and subspecies of wolves worldwide. The best known is the grey wolf in Europe and North America. In recent years, wolves have returned to Germany. Wolves live in packs with a clear order of rank.
See the question in the quiz →How many eggs does a leatherback sea turtle lay at once?
Answer: 100
A leatherback sea turtle lays about 100 eggs at once. She digs a deep hole in the sandy beach for them. Only a few hatchlings ever reach the sea. The mother returns her whole life to the same beach where she hatched herself.
See the question in the quiz →In which country do the most wild camels live?
Answer: Australia
Over one million wild camels live in Australia. People brought them to the desert in the 19th century for transport. Later they were released and multiplied fast. Today Australia is the only place with truly wild dromedaries.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal is the closest living relative of the hippo?
Answer: Whale
The closest living relative of the hippo is the whale. Both descend from a common ancestor 55 million years ago. Scientists discovered this through DNA comparisons. Hippos and whales even share the ability to communicate underwater.
See the question in the quiz →Which mammal lays eggs?
Answer: Platypus
The platypus is a mammal that lays eggs. It lives in Australia and looks like a mix of duck and beaver. The males have venomous spurs on their hind feet. After hatching, the babies drink milk from the mother.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal kills the most humans every year?
Answer: Mosquito
Mosquitoes kill about 725,000 people every year. They spread diseases like malaria and dengue. Sharks only kill about ten people per year. This makes the mosquito the deadliest animal in the world. Only the female bites because she needs blood for her eggs.
See the question in the quiz →How many taste buds does a catfish have?
Answer: Over 175,000
A catfish has over 175,000 taste buds all over its body. It tastes with its skin, not just the tongue. A human has only about 10,000. This helps the catfish find food in murky water. Just by swimming past, it tastes everything around it.
See the question in the quiz →How long is a woodpecker's tongue?
Answer: Up to 10 cm, plus wrap around the skull
A woodpecker's tongue grows up to ten centimeters long. Inside the head it wraps all the way around the skull. This cushions the brain during hammering like a pillow. That is why a woodpecker never gets a headache despite 20 pecks per second.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal has blue blood?
Answer: Horseshoe crab
The horseshoe crab has light blue blood. This comes from copper instead of iron in the blood. Doctors use this blood to test vaccines for purity. One liter can cost up to 13,000 euros. He has lived on Earth almost unchanged for 450 million years.
See the question in the quiz →Where do the only wild penguins live north of the equator?
Answer: Galápagos Islands
Galápagos penguins are the only wild penguins living north of the equator. The islands belong to Ecuador and sit in the Pacific. Cold ocean currents bring enough fish and cool water. This lets the penguins survive in the tropics.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers can a tiger swim without stopping?
Answer: 8
A tiger can swim up to 8 kilometers without stopping. That means it can easily cross a wide river. Tigers love water and often bathe for hours. This sets them apart from almost every other cat. Some tigers even hunt while swimming in a river.
See the question in the quiz →How many brains does a leech have?
Answer: 32
A leech has 32 brains inside its body. More precisely, they are 32 nerve ganglia working together. Each one controls a segment of the body. This lets the leech stretch in any direction. That is why every part of the body reacts instantly to touch.
See the question in the quiz →How many meters is the longest nose of any mammal?
Answer: 2
The elephant trunk is the longest nose of any mammal. It grows up to two meters long and weighs 130 kilograms. The trunk holds over 40,000 muscles. An elephant can use it to pick up a peanut or push over a tree.
See the question in the quiz →What percentage of marine animals is still undiscovered?
Answer: About 91
About 91 percent of marine animals are still undiscovered. Scientists know only around 240,000 species in the ocean. Every year about 2,000 new ones are added. The deep sea is less explored than the surface of the moon.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal can turn its stomach inside out through its mouth?
Answer: Starfish
A starfish can push its stomach out through its mouth. This lets it digest prey larger than its own body. After eating, it pulls the stomach back in. This way it can even feed on tightly shut clams. If an arm breaks off, it simply grows back again.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers does a humpback whale travel per year?
Answer: Up to 16,000
A humpback whale travels up to 16,000 kilometers per year. It moves between cold feeding grounds and warm breeding areas. During the trip it barely eats for months. The fat reserves still carry it through the long journey.
See the question in the quiz →Which bird can fly backwards?
Answer: Hummingbird
Only the hummingbird can truly fly backwards. Its wings rotate like a propeller. It can also hover in place and even fly upside down. No other bird masters this flight style. He flaps his wings up to 80 times per second while doing it.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal has fingerprints almost identical to human ones?
Answer: Koala
Koalas have fingerprints just like humans. Even under a microscope they are hard to tell apart. Scientists discovered this in a study in Australia. At a crime scene, koala prints could in theory be confused with human ones.
See the question in the quiz →Which country has more sheep than people?
Answer: New Zealand
New Zealand has about 25 million sheep and only five million people. That means five sheep per person. In the past the ratio was even higher. Wool and lamb are key exports of the country. The animals deliver almost 150,000 tons of wool each year.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal cannot walk backwards?
Answer: Kangaroo
A kangaroo cannot walk backwards. Its big hind legs and thick tail block reverse movement. That is why Australia puts the kangaroo on its coat of arms. The country should only move forward, like the animal.
See the question in the quiz →In which country was the house cat first tamed?
Answer: Cyprus
The house cat was first tamed in Cyprus 9,500 years ago. Archaeologists found a grave there with a human and a cat. People long believed Egypt was the origin. But the taming started much earlier and further east.
See the question in the quiz →How many hours can a snail sleep in one go?
Answer: Up to 72
A snail can sleep up to 72 hours in one go. In dry times it can even sleep for up to three years. It pulls into its shell and seals the entrance. This way it survives long periods without water or food.
See the question in the quiz →How many words does an average Border Collie understand?
Answer: Up to 1,000
A Border Collie can understand up to 1,000 words. That makes it the smartest dog breed in the world. The record dog Chaser knew 1,022 toys by name. Toddlers at the same age often know only half as many.
See the question in the quiz →How many meters can a garden snail crawl per hour?
Answer: About 3
A garden snail crawls only about three meters per hour. For one kilometer it would need over 300 hours. Still, it finds every corner of the garden. It leaves a sticky slime trail to find its way back.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal has the strongest bite force in the world?
Answer: Saltwater crocodile
The saltwater crocodile has the strongest bite force in the world. Researchers have measured about 1,700 kilograms of force. A human can only manage about 70 kilograms when biting. Yet the muscles that open its jaw are surprisingly weak.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal breathes through its bottom?
Answer: Turtle
Some turtles really do breathe through their bottom. They take in oxygen through a rear opening called the cloaca. This helps them survive under ice in winter. They can stay underwater for months this way.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilograms of plankton does a blue whale eat per day?
Answer: Up to 3,600
A blue whale eats up to 3,600 kilograms of plankton per day. Most of it is tiny shrimp called krill. One gulp takes in 80,000 liters of water that gets filtered out. In the feeding season, the whale almost doubles its weight.
See the question in the quiz →Where do Europe's only wild monkeys live?
Answer: Gibraltar
Gibraltar is home to Europe's only wild monkeys. About 300 Barbary macaques live on the rock. Legend says Gibraltar stays British as long as the monkeys are there. That is why even the army takes care of them.
See the question in the quiz →How many million ants live on Earth per human?
Answer: About 2.5
There are about 2.5 million ants for every human on Earth. In total that is around 20 quadrillion ants. Their combined weight equals the weight of all humans together. This makes ants one of the most successful creatures ever.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal sleeps with only one half of its brain?
Answer: Dolphin
Dolphins sleep with only one half of their brain at a time. The other half stays awake and keeps one eye open. This way they keep breathing and watch for danger. Many seabirds use the same trick while flying.
See the question in the quiz →Which mammal has the largest brain to body ratio after humans?
Answer: Bottlenose dolphin
After humans, the bottlenose dolphin has the largest brain to body ratio. Dolphins solve tasks, recognize themselves in mirrors and use tools. They even give each other names through unique whistles. That makes them one of the smartest animals ever.
See the question in the quiz →How many seconds does a chameleon need to shoot out its tongue?
Answer: 0.07
A chameleon shoots its tongue out in just 0.07 seconds. The acceleration is higher than that of a fighter jet. The tongue can be twice as long as the body. That is how it catches insects from several meters away.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal can become nearly immortal?
Answer: Turritopsis jellyfish
The Turritopsis jellyfish can turn back into a young body. When it gets old or hurt, it restarts its life cycle. In theory it can live forever. Scientists call it the immortal jellyfish. This only works as long as the jellyfish does not get eaten.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal has the longest sexual organ relative to its body?
Answer: Barnacle
The barnacle has the longest sexual organ in the animal kingdom. It can be up to eight times the body length. The reason is simple. Barnacles are stuck in place and must reach far to find a partner. For a human this would mean a length of ten meters.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal has the most teeth?
Answer: Garden snail
A garden snail has up to 25,000 tiny teeth. They sit on a rasping tongue called a radula. With it the snail scrapes off leaves and plants. The teeth get replaced regularly as they wear down. Sometimes you can even hear the rasping on a lettuce leaf.
See the question in the quiz →How many days can a cockroach live without its head?
Answer: Up to 9
A cockroach can live up to nine days without its head. It breathes through small holes on the body, not the mouth. Only when it runs out of water does it die. The nervous system keeps working without a brain.
See the question in the quiz →How many weeks do worker bees live in summer?
Answer: About 6
A worker bee lives only about six weeks in summer. It dies of exhaustion from gathering food. In winter, workers can live up to six months. The queen herself can reach five years of age. A single bee flies about 8,000 kilometers during that time.
See the question in the quiz →How many meters can an archerfish spit water?
Answer: Up to 3
An archerfish can spit water up to three meters. It hits insects sitting on leaves above the water. Its jet is so precise that it knocks prey down. Scientists say it even accounts for light refraction.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal is genetically closest to humans?
Answer: Bonobo
The bonobo shares about 98.7 percent of its genes with humans. That puts it level with the chimpanzee. Bonobos often solve conflicts with cuddling instead of fighting. They only live in the Congo basin in Africa.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal can freeze at minus 18 degrees and wake up again?
Answer: Wood frog
The wood frog freezes at minus 18 degrees and still survives. Its heart stops and two thirds of its water turns to ice. Sugar inside the cells prevents damage. In spring it thaws out and hops away again.
See the question in the quiz →In which country do the most tigers live in the wild?
Answer: India
India is home to about 3,700 wild tigers. That is more than 70 percent of all wild tigers worldwide. The largest populations live in the national parks of Madhya Pradesh. One hundred years ago there were still around 100,000 worldwide.
See the question in the quiz →How many meters deep can an emperor penguin dive?
Answer: Over 500
An emperor penguin dives over 500 meters deep into the sea. It can hold its breath for up to 20 minutes. Its heart beats only 15 times per minute underwater. This saves oxygen for long hunting trips. He hunts fish, squid and krill on the sea floor.
See the question in the quiz →In which country are there no wild snakes at all?
Answer: Ireland
Ireland has not a single wild snake. After the ice age the island was too cold and already cut off by the sea. Legend says Saint Patrick chased them away. New Zealand and Antarctica are snake-free too.
See the question in the quiz →Which animal produces cube-shaped droppings?
Answer: Wombat
The wombat is the only animal that produces cube-shaped droppings. Its intestines press the poop into the blocky form. The cubes do not roll away and mark the territory. Australian scientists even got an Ig Nobel Prize for this.
See the question in the quiz →How many color receptors does a mantis shrimp eye have?
Answer: 16
The mantis shrimp has 16 color receptors in its eye. A human has only three. This lets it see colors we cannot imagine. Still, it does not tell colors apart better than us. The eye can also see polarized light, something humans cannot do.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilograms does an elephant baby weigh at birth?
Answer: About 120
An elephant baby weighs about 120 kilograms at birth. That makes it the heaviest mammal baby on land. Still, it can walk after just one hour. The mother carried it for 22 months before birth. At first it does not drink with the trunk, it uses its mouth.
See the question in the quiz →How many kilometers per hour can a pronghorn antelope run?
Answer: About 88
The pronghorn antelope runs up to 88 kilometers per hour. That makes it the second fastest land animal in the world. It keeps this speed far longer than a cheetah. Its heart is extra large to pump enough blood.
See the question in the quiz →How many liters of saliva does a cow produce per day?
Answer: Up to 180
A cow produces up to 180 liters of saliva per day. That fills a whole bathtub. The saliva helps her chew the cud from grass. Without it she could not digest the tough food. Each day she also chews her cud for up to eight hours.
See the question in the quiz →Where do the last truly wild horses in the world live?
Answer: Mongolia
The last truly wild horses live in Mongolia. They are called Przewalski's horses and were nearly extinct. In the 1990s they were reintroduced to the wild. All other wild horses come from escaped domestic horses.
See the question in the quiz →Which farm animal always has horizontal pupils?
Answer: Goat
A goat always has horizontal pupils. No matter how bright it gets, the shape stays the same. This gives the goat a 320 degree view. It can spot predators from almost all directions. Sheep, horses and deer also have this pupil shape.
See the question in the quiz →How much weight does a baby blue whale gain in a single day?
Answer: up to 91 kilograms
A blue whale mother's milk is extremely rich. That is why the baby gains up to 91 kilos every single day. That is more than a grown-up weighs (WWF, 2025).
See the question in the quiz →How many spines does a grown-up hedgehog have?
Answer: 6,000 to 8,000 spines
A grown hedgehog carries 6,000 to 8,000 spines on its back. As a baby it starts with only about 100 white spines (NABU, 2024).
See the question in the quiz →How many seconds does a cheetah need to reach 95 kilometers per hour?
Answer: about 3 seconds
In only 3 seconds a cheetah is as fast as a car on a country road. Its steps can be up to nine meters long (WWF, 2025).
See the question in the quiz →How many flowers do bees have to visit to fill one jar of honey?
Answer: about 7.5 million flowers
For one 500 gram jar of honey, bees fly to about 2 million plants and visit around 7.5 million flowers (German Beekeepers Association, 2025).
See the question in the quiz →How many bees live in one beehive in summer?
Answer: up to 60,000 bees
In summer up to 60,000 bees live in one colony. In winter only about 20,000 are left (NABU, 2025).
See the question in the quiz →How many little muscle bundles are inside an elephant's trunk?
Answer: about 90,000
Researchers looked at a trunk under a microscope and counted around 90,000 tiny muscle bundles. That is why an elephant can lift a tree trunk and also pick up a peanut (Humboldt University of Berlin, 2023).
See the question in the quiz →How many times does a hummingbird's heart beat per minute while flying?
Answer: more than 1,200 times
Sitting still, a hummingbird's heart beats 225 times a minute. While flying it beats more than 1,200 times, about 20 times a second (Smithsonian National Zoo, 2025).
See the question in the quiz →How many times its own height can a flea jump?
Answer: about 150 times
A flea jumps around 150 times its own height. If a child could do that, it would jump over a tower block (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 2025).
See the question in the quiz →How long is a chameleon's tongue compared to its body?
Answer: about twice its body length
A chameleon's tongue is about twice as long as its body and shoots out in a flash. In small species that takes one hundredth of a second (National Geographic on a Brown University study, 2016).
See the question in the quiz →How many eggs does a hen in Germany lay in one year on average?
Answer: 304 eggs
A hen lays 304 eggs a year on average. That is nearly one every single day (German Federal Statistical Office, 2025).
See the question in the quiz →Frequently Asked Questions
What is an animal estimation quiz?▾
An estimation quiz doesn't ask for right or wrong. It asks for a number: how fast, how old, how heavy. Whoever lands closest wins the point. Animal questions work equally well for kids and adults.
Which animals does QuizTimate cover?▾
Mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, insects, and sea life. From cheetahs to blue whales to cockroaches. The focus is animals where concrete numbers, speed, lifespan, size, tend to surprise people.
What age is the animal quiz good for?▾
The easier questions work from age 6 up. Many questions are built for the whole family. Elementary-school kids tend to enjoy it the most.
Does the quiz work on mobile?▾
Yes, QuizTimate is built for phones. You play directly in your browser, no app needed.
Is there an answer for every question?▾
Yes, every question has the correct number and a short explanation.
How many animal questions are there?▾
A hand-picked set that grows over time. We'd rather ship questions with real aha-moments than fill the category with repeats.
Animal estimation might be the easiest on-ramp to the whole quiz universe. Kids jump in right away, adults underestimate the numbers nearly every time, and the aha-moments deliver themselves. If you want more, try our nature or geography categories, same idea, different focus. Some families turn three questions into a quick bedtime ritual, and that's all it takes. Hit the quiz button, pick the animal set, and start guessing, the first question is waiting on the other side.
Start Animals quizWant to keep guessing? Here you find all estimation questions.