Mermaid Purses & Gynandromorphs: A Quirky Animal Quiz
Mermaid Purses & Gynandromorphs…Do you know what these are? Take this fun 15 question quiz and find out, plus learn a handful of other quirky conversation starters for your next coffee break or dinner party.
1. Some chickens are born half male and half female. True or False?
2. Which animal produces an egg case that is often called a “mermaid’s purse”?
a. octopus
b. oyster
c. shark
d. cuttlefish
3. Squirrels sweat through their feet. True or False?
4. Whales can shoot water from their blowhole how high?
a. 15 feet
b. 30 feet
c. 300 feet
d. 1000 feet
5. Salt and sugar are both poisonous to snails. True or False?
6. A chameleon has a fast tongue. About how fast can it zip to zap a bug?
a. 13 miles an hour
b. 25 miles an hour
c. 50 miles an hour
d. 100 miles an hour
7. A group of meerkats is called a _________________.
a. gang
b. google
c. village
d. mob
8. A group of sea otters is called a ________________.
a. gang
b. raft
c. pod
d. mob
9. A group of camels is called a __________________.
a. flock
b. mob
c. drift
d. pack

10. At what age could a reindeer likely outrun you?
a. one hour old
b. one day old
c. two weeks old
d. two months old
a. stinger
b. stomach
c. abdomen stripes
d. antennae
12. A baby jellyfish is called a _____________.
a. medusa
b. ephyrae
c. fry
d. nymph
13. A group of squid is called a ______________.
a. pod
b. cephalopod
c. dynasty
d. squad or shoal
14. A baby ant is called a/n _______________.
a. antling
b. cria
c. larva
d. nymph
15. Anteaters can eat up to ________________ insects per day.
a. 30,000
b. 60,000
c. 100,000
d. 800,000

1. Some chickens are born half male and half female. True or False?
True. Called gynandromorphs, one side looks male, while the other appears female. Surprisingly, this is due to a cellular mix-up rather than due to hormones.
2. Which animal produces an egg case called a mermaid’s purse?
c. shark
Skates make a similar egg case, also sometimes referred to as a mermaid’s purse.
3. Squirrels sweat through their feet. True or False?
True
4. Whales can shoot water from their blowhole how high?
b. 30 feet (and they can also shoot rainbows from their blowholes!)
5. Salt and sugar are both poisonous to snails. True or False?
b. True
Fermented sugar traps are often used by organic gardeners to manage snails without toxic chemicals.
6. A chameleon has a fast tongue. How fast can it zip out to zap a bug?
a. 13 miles an hour
7. A group of meerkats is called a _________________.
d. mob
8. A group of sea otters is called a ________________.
b. raft
9. A group of camels is called a __________________.
a. flock
Sometimes, they are also referred to as a caravan, a herd or a train of camels.
10. At what age could a reindeer likely outrun you?
a. one hour old
11. Male honeybees (drones) are missing which of the following?
a. stinger
12. A baby jellyfish is called a _____________.
b. ephyrae
13. A group of squid is called a ______________.
d. shoal or a squad
14. A baby ant is called a _______________.
a. antling
15. Anteaters can eat up to ________________ insects per day.
a. 30,000