Animals
Animal facts can upset your sense of scale. Compare sizes, lifespans and the numbers behind the natural world, with each question defining exactly what is being counted.
50 available questions in English
Play this categoryHow many legs does a typical adult insect have?
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6
How many legs does a typical adult insect have?
An insect’s 6 legs attach to its thorax.
How many walking legs does a typical adult spider have?
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8
How many walking legs does a typical adult spider have?
Spiders have 8 walking legs; their small mouth appendages are separate.
How many legs does a decapod crustacean have, including its claw-bearing legs?
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10
How many legs does a decapod crustacean have, including its claw-bearing legs?
The name decapod refers to the group’s 10 legs.
How many walking legs does an adult woodlouse normally have?
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14
How many walking legs does an adult woodlouse normally have?
Its 14 legs reveal that a woodlouse is a crustacean, not an insect.
How many arms does a typical octopus have?
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8
How many arms does a typical octopus have?
An octopus can use its 8 arms to explore and taste its surroundings.
How many hearts does an octopus have?
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3
How many hearts does an octopus have?
Of its 3 hearts, some pump blood through the gills.
How many arms and feeding tentacles does a typical squid have in total?
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10
How many arms and feeding tentacles does a typical squid have in total?
A squid’s 10 appendages include a long pair used to seize prey.
How many compartments are in a cow’s stomach?
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4
How many compartments are in a cow’s stomach?
A cow has one stomach with 4 compartments, not separate stomachs.
How many compartments does a camel’s stomach have?
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3
How many compartments does a camel’s stomach have?
The camel’s 3 stomach compartments help process tough vegetation.
How many neck vertebrae does a giraffe usually have?
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7
How many neck vertebrae does a giraffe usually have?
A giraffe’s long neck usually contains just 7 vertebrae.
How many major body sections does a typical insect have?
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3
How many major body sections does a typical insect have?
Its 3 main sections are the head, thorax and abdomen.
How many wings does a typical butterfly have?
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4
How many wings does a typical butterfly have?
A butterfly’s 4 wings form a front pair and a hind pair.
How many functional flight wings does an adult housefly have?
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2
How many functional flight wings does an adult housefly have?
Its 2 flight wings work alongside tiny balancing organs called halteres.
How many arms does a common starfish, Asterias rubens, usually have?
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5
How many arms does a common starfish, Asterias rubens, usually have?
This species usually has 5 arms, although other starfish species can have more.
How many permanent teeth does a dog normally have?
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42
How many permanent teeth does a dog normally have?
A full adult set contains 42 teeth, including prominent canine teeth.
How many permanent teeth does a cat normally have?
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30
How many permanent teeth does a cat normally have?
A cat’s adult set has 30 teeth adapted for cutting meat.
How many teeth does an adult rabbit normally have?
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28
How many teeth does an adult rabbit normally have?
A rabbit’s 28 teeth include tiny incisors hidden behind the main upper pair.
How many permanent teeth does a domestic pig normally have?
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44
How many permanent teeth does a domestic pig normally have?
A complete adult pig dentition contains 44 teeth.
How many chromosomes are in a normal body cell of a domestic dog?
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78
How many chromosomes are in a normal body cell of a domestic dog?
A dog’s body cells normally hold 78 chromosomes arranged in pairs.
How many chromosomes are in a normal body cell of a domestic cat?
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38
How many chromosomes are in a normal body cell of a domestic cat?
The domestic cat normally has 38 chromosomes in its body cells.
How many chromosomes are in a normal body cell of a domestic horse?
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64
How many chromosomes are in a normal body cell of a domestic horse?
A horse normally has 64 chromosomes; donkeys have a different count.
How many chromosomes are in a normal body cell of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster?
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8
How many chromosomes are in a normal body cell of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster?
This laboratory favorite has only 8 chromosomes in its body cells.
How many chromosomes does a male western honeybee normally have?
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16
How many chromosomes does a male western honeybee normally have?
A drone has 16 chromosomes because it develops from an unfertilized egg.
How many eyes does an adult honeybee have in total?
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5
How many eyes does an adult honeybee have in total?
Its 5 eyes include large compound eyes and small simple eyes.
How many hinged shell valves make up a scallop’s shell?
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2
How many hinged shell valves make up a scallop’s shell?
The scallop can clap its 2 shell valves to propel itself through water.
About how many days does a chicken egg take to hatch, rounded to a whole day?
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21 days
About how many days does a chicken egg take to hatch, rounded to a whole day?
A chick usually hatches after about 21 days days of incubation.
About how many days does a mallard duck incubate its eggs, rounded to a whole day?
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28 days
About how many days does a mallard duck incubate its eggs, rounded to a whole day?
Mallard eggs typically hatch after about 28 days days of incubation.
About how many days does an ostrich egg take to hatch, rounded to a whole day?
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42 days
About how many days does an ostrich egg take to hatch, rounded to a whole day?
An ostrich chick usually develops inside its egg for about 42 days days.
About how many days is a dog pregnant from ovulation, rounded to a whole day?
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63 days
About how many days is a dog pregnant from ovulation, rounded to a whole day?
Measured from ovulation, canine pregnancy lasts about 63 days days.
About how many days is a domestic rabbit pregnant, rounded to a whole day?
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31 days
About how many days is a domestic rabbit pregnant, rounded to a whole day?
A rabbit pregnancy lasts about 31 days days, though individual litters vary.
About how many days is a cow pregnant, rounded to a whole day?
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283 days
About how many days is a cow pregnant, rounded to a whole day?
A cow’s pregnancy lasts about 283 days days, with variation between breeds.
About how many days is a sow pregnant, rounded to a whole day?
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114 days
About how many days is a sow pregnant, rounded to a whole day?
Pig farmers often remember the roughly 114 days-day pregnancy with a calendar mnemonic.
About how many days is a ewe pregnant, rounded to a whole day?
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147 days
About how many days is a ewe pregnant, rounded to a whole day?
A ewe carries her lambs for about 147 days days.
How many humps does a Bactrian camel have?
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2
How many humps does a Bactrian camel have?
Its 2 humps store fat, which can be used as an energy reserve.
How many humps does a dromedary have?
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1
How many humps does a dromedary have?
The dromedary has 1 hump and is well adapted to hot deserts.
How many head tentacles does a garden snail normally have?
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4
How many head tentacles does a garden snail normally have?
Of its 4 tentacles, the upper pair carry the eyes.
How many eyes does a tarantula usually have?
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8
How many eyes does a tarantula usually have?
Despite its 8 eyes, a tarantula relies heavily on vibrations.
How many toes does a typical dog have, counting front dewclaws but no extra rear dewclaws?
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18
How many toes does a typical dog have, counting front dewclaws but no extra rear dewclaws?
The usual total is 18 toes; extra hind dewclaws can change the count.
How many pairs of gill slits do most shark species have?
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5
How many pairs of gill slits do most shark species have?
Most sharks have 5 pairs, although some species have more.
How many gills does a nautilus have?
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4
How many gills does a nautilus have?
Its 4 gills distinguish it from other living cephalopods.
How many neck vertebrae does a camel normally have?
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7
How many neck vertebrae does a camel normally have?
A camel’s long curved neck normally contains 7 vertebrae.
About how many months is an elephant pregnant, rounded to a whole month?
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22 mths
About how many months is an elephant pregnant, rounded to a whole month?
An elephant pregnancy lasts about 22 mths months, varying between individuals.
About how many months is a giraffe pregnant, rounded to a whole month?
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15 mths
About how many months is a giraffe pregnant, rounded to a whole month?
A giraffe calf develops for about 15 mths months before birth.
In what year was Darwin’s On the Origin of Species first published?
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1859
In what year was Darwin’s On the Origin of Species first published?
The book appeared in 1859 and transformed the study of living things.
In what year did Darwin publish The Descent of Man?
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1871
In what year did Darwin publish The Descent of Man?
Darwin developed his ideas about human evolution in this book from 1871.
In what year was Dolly the cloned sheep born, before her public announcement?
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1996
In what year was Dolly the cloned sheep born, before her public announcement?
Dolly was born in 1996; the announcement came later.
In what year did Martha, the last known passenger pigeon, die?
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1914
In what year did Martha, the last known passenger pigeon, die?
Martha died in 1914 at Cincinnati Zoo.
In what year did the last known captive thylacine die at Hobart Zoo?
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1936
In what year did the last known captive thylacine die at Hobart Zoo?
The captive animal died in 1936; this does not establish the last wild sighting.
In what year did Jane Goodall begin her chimpanzee research at Gombe?
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1960
In what year did Jane Goodall begin her chimpanzee research at Gombe?
Goodall began at Gombe in 1960, changing how people understood chimpanzees.
How many toes does an ostrich have on each foot?
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2
How many toes does an ostrich have on each foot?
Each foot has 2 toes, an unusual arrangement among birds.
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