Amazing Animals: Marine Mammal Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
1 min
Amazing Animals: Marine Mammal Quiz
Image: SCIEPRO/Science Photo Library/Getty Images

About This Quiz

When you think of marine life, you probably think about scaly fish with gills, but there are a variety of aquatic mammals that breathe air. So hold your breath and dive into the marine mammals quiz!
What's the largest animal on Earth?
blue whale
humpback whale
whale shark
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

By considerable measure, the largest known animal on Earth is the blue whale. Mature blue whales can measure anywhere from 75 feet (23 meters) to 100 feet (30.5 meters) from head to tail, and can weigh as much as 150 tons (136 metric tons).

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What marine mammal is referred to as the "wolf of the sea"?
narwhal
manatee
orca
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Orcas, or killer whales, which are known for their fierce group-hunting style, have been called the "wolves of the sea."

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What do baleen whales lack that other whales have?
eyes
teeth
blowholes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Instead of pearly whites, baleen whales have plates with coarse broomlike bristles -- sort of like a mustache instead of teeth.

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What's the longest amount of time that whales can go without breathing?
20 minutes
75 minutes
two hours
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Beaked whales can hold their breath for up to two hours.

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What are narwhal tusks made of?
ivory
calcium
limestone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Narwhal tusks are made of ivory.

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What special sense do dolphins and some whales use to hear underwater?
passive sonar
echolocation
lateral line
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A dolphin's sonar process, also used by bats and some whales, is called echolocation.

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Which body part of a walrus is most useful for hunting?
eyes
tusks
whiskers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Walruses possess anywhere from 400 to 700 whiskers, arranged in 13 to 15 rows around the nose. These whiskers, also known as vibrissae, are attached to muscles and are supplied with blood and nerves, which makes them highly sensitive in order to detect prey.

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What's the easiest way to tell the difference between true seals and sea lions?
Look at the whiskers.
Look at the ears.
Look at the size of the body.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

True seals have no external ears, while sea lions (and fur seals) do.

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"Floating gold" is another name for what marine mammal excretion?
whale vomit
walrus sweat
dolphin feces
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Whale vomit, or ambergris, can fetch between $10 and $20 per gram. Ambergris is used as an ingredient in fine perfume because of its unique odor and ability to make a scent "stick" to the skin.

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Which of the following is a difference between dolphins and porpoises?
Porpoises are considered toothed whales, while dolphins aren't.
Porpoises have rounded, blunt muzzles, and dolphins have pointed ones.
Porpoises are shier than dolphins.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Both are toothed whales, but dolphins have pointy, cone-shaped snouts, while porpoises have rounded ones.

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You Got:
/10
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