Arctic & Antarctic Animals Quiz

1. Where do polar bears live — the Arctic or the Antarctic?

1. Both poles equally
2. The Antarctic (South Pole)
3. The Arctic (North Pole)
4. They live in neither — only in Canada

2. Which is the tallest and heaviest penguin species?

1. Adelie penguin
2. Chinstrap penguin
3. Emperor penguin
4. King penguin

3. How does a polar bear's fur keep it warm?

1. Each hollow, transparent hair reflects light and traps heat like a solar collector
2. It has no fur — just very thick skin
3. It is very thick like sheep's wool
4. It secretes an oil that insulates against cold water

4. Which Arctic animal can dive to 1,500 metres deep, has a spiral tusk, and is sometimes called the 'unicorn of the sea'?

1. Beluga whale
2. Bowhead whale
3. Narwhal
4. Orca

5. What is the Arctic fox's most impressive adaptation for winter survival?

1. It hibernates for the whole winter
2. It migrates south to warmer climates in winter
3. It stores enough fat in summer to last all winter without eating
4. Its coat changes from brown/grey in summer to pure white in winter for camouflage in snow

6. What do emperor penguin fathers do to keep their egg warm in Antarctic winter?

1. They balance the egg on their feet and cover it with a warm brood pouch
2. They build a nest lined with feathers
3. They bury the egg in snow for insulation
4. They take turns sitting on the egg with the mother

7. Which sea mammal covered in whiskers and lying on Arctic ice is a primary food source for polar bears?

1. Bearded seal
2. Harp seal
3. Sea lion
4. Walrus

8. The walrus has long tusks. What are they used for?

1. For digging under ice for clams
2. For hauling themselves out of water onto ice, for fighting rivals, and for social display
3. For hunting fish underwater
4. Only for displaying to attract mates

9. Which Antarctic animal is the biggest predator of seals and penguins in Antarctica (besides orcas)?

1. Elephant seal
2. Leopard seal
3. Southern fur seal
4. Weddell seal

10. What allows reindeer (caribou) to survive Arctic winters without starving?

1. Their eyes change to UV-vision mode and their hooves widen for snow, enabling year-round grazing
2. They can eat bark and wood in emergencies
3. They hibernate through winter
4. They migrate to warmer areas in winter

11. Which Arctic whale has a pure white colour and is known for its vocal calls?

1. Beluga whale
2. Bowhead whale
3. Humpback whale
4. Narwhal

12. How do penguins stay warm in freezing Antarctic temperatures?

1. They generate heat by constantly moving their flippers
2. They have blubber, tightly packed waterproof feathers, and huddle together for warmth
3. They have special blood that doesn't freeze
4. They sleep underground in insulated burrows

13. The Arctic tern makes the longest migration of any animal. How far does it travel each year?

1. About 10,000 km
2. About 150,000 km
3. About 30,000 km
4. About 70,000 km — from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back

14. Which large Arctic marine mammal can hold its breath for over 90 minutes when diving?

1. Harp seal
2. Polar bear
3. Walrus
4. Weddell seal

15. What is the musk ox's main defence against predators like wolves?

1. It charges individually at each predator in turn
2. It emits a powerful musk odour that repels wolves
3. It forms a defensive circle with horns pointing outward and young in the centre
4. It runs very fast across open tundra

16. How many species of penguin exist in the world?

1. 18
2. 27
3. 4
4. 8

17. What do orcas (killer whales) do when hunting seals resting on ice floes in Antarctica?

1. They break the ice from below with their heads
2. They leap onto the ice to catch seals
3. They wait for seals to enter the water to drink
4. They work in coordinated groups to create waves that wash seals off ice floes

18. Which Arctic animal has translucent skin, can survive being frozen, and is sometimes called a 'sea grape'?

1. Amphipod
2. Arctic isopod
3. Arctic jellyfish
4. Sea angel (pteropod)

19. The snowy owl lives in the Arctic. Unlike most owls, when does it hunt?

1. During the day as well as night, because Arctic summers have 24-hour daylight
2. Only at dawn and dusk
3. Only at night like all owls
4. Primarily in total darkness under snow

20. What is the key difference between the Arctic and Antarctic environments?

1. The Antarctic has more land wildlife than the Arctic
2. The Arctic is a frozen ocean surrounded by land; the Antarctic is a continent surrounded by ocean
3. The Arctic is colder than the Antarctic
4. There is no significant difference — both are just ice