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River Otter - Quiz
Contributed by: Hale
  • 1. What is the scientific name for the North American river otter?
A) Aqua otterus
B) Riverus americensis
C) Lontra canadensis
D) Otterus riverinus
  • 2. How many species of river otters are there?
A) 27
B) 8
C) 13
D) 5
  • 3. What is the average lifespan of a river otter in the wild?
A) Less than 1 year
B) 10-15 years
C) 2-4 years
D) 20-25 years
  • 4. What is a group of river otters called?
A) A romp
B) A flock
C) A herd
D) A school
  • 5. How do river otters hunt for food?
A) They dive underwater to catch prey
B) They beg for food from humans
C) They climb trees to catch birds
D) They use traps
  • 6. What family do river otters belong to?
A) Ursidae
B) Canidae
C) Mustelidae
D) Felidae
  • 7. Do river otters have a strong sense of smell?
A) No
B) Only on weekends
C) Yes
D) It depends on the weather
  • 8. How do river otters groom themselves?
A) By taking dust baths
B) By rolling in mud
C) By licking their fur
D) By using hairbrushes
  • 9. Do river otters hibernate?
A) They hibernate underwater
B) No
C) Yes, for several months
D) Only if it's a leap year
  • 10. What is the conservation status of the North American river otter?
A) Critically Endangered
B) Least Concern
C) Endangered
D) Vulnerable
  • 11. What is the role of river otters in their ecosystem?
A) They are predators of birds
B) They help maintain the balance of fish populations
C) They are scavengers
D) They are known for their singing abilities
  • 12. What adaptation allows river otters to swim gracefully underwater?
A) Sharp claws
B) Blubber layer
C) Striped fur
D) Webbed feet
  • 13. Which of these senses is highly developed in river otters?
A) Smell
B) Taste
C) Hearing
D) Sight
  • 14. During which time of day are river otters most active?
A) Midnight
B) Afternoon
C) Dawn and dusk
D) Noon
  • 15. In which epoch did the river otter and the giant otter of South America diverge?
A) Miocene epoch
B) Pliocene epoch
C) Eocene epoch
D) Oligocene epoch
  • 16. What type of ecosystems do North American river otters typically establish their dens in?
A) River, lake, swamp, coastal shoreline, tidal flat, or estuary
B) Mountainous areas
C) Urban environments
D) Desert and arid regions
  • 17. What is a significant factor contributing to the decline of North American river otter populations?
A) Climate change
B) Natural predators
C) Overhunting by humans
D) Environmental pollution
  • 18. When did fossils of a giant otter dating back 3.5 million years ago appear in the US Midwest?
A) During the Eocene epoch
B) During the Pliocene epoch
C) During the Miocene epoch
D) During the Oligocene epoch
  • 19. How did New World river otters originate?
A) Through evolution in North America
B) From Old World river otters via the Bering Land Bridge
C) Directly from South America
D) Via migration through Europe
  • 20. Who first described the North American river otter?
A) Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber
B) Carl Linnaeus
C) George Cuvier
D) Charles Darwin
  • 21. Under which appendix is Lontra canadensis listed by CITES?
A) Appendix III
B) Not listed
C) Appendix II
D) Appendix I
  • 22. Which subspecies of North American river otter is found on the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia?
A) L. c. canadensis (Schreber, 1777)
B) L. c. sonora (Rhoads, 1898)
C) L. c. pacifica (J. A. Allen, 1898)
D) L. c. periclyzomae (Elliot, 1905)
  • 23. What percentage of summer spraints in Georgia contained remnants of crayfish?
A) 98%
B) 85%
C) 75%
D) 50%
  • 24. In which part of the United States are North American river otters still rare or absent?
A) Northeastern United States
B) Midwestern United States
C) Northwestern United States
D) Southwestern United States
  • 25. What type of prey do North American river otters avoid consuming?
A) Amphibians
B) Fish
C) Carrion
D) Reptiles
  • 26. In which state did crayfish account for two-thirds of the North American river otter's summer diet?
A) Georgia
B) Arkansas
C) California
D) Texas
  • 27. In which season do North American river otters consume more aquatic insects?
A) Summer
B) Winter
C) Fall
D) Spring
  • 28. Which subspecies of North American river otter is found in central California?
A) L. c. periclyzomae (Elliot, 1905)
B) L. c. pacifica (J. A. Allen, 1898)
C) L. c. canadensis (Schreber, 1777)
D) L. c. mira (Goldman, 1935)
  • 29. What does Appendix II of CITES indicate about a species?
A) Species are extinct in the wild.
B) Species not necessarily threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade is controlled.
C) Species have stable populations without any risk.
D) Species are critically endangered and need immediate protection.
  • 30. What is the average weight of an adult male North American river otter?
A) 20 kg (44 lb)
B) 8.3 kg (18 lb)
C) 11.3 kilograms (25 lb)
D) 15 kg (33 lb)
  • 31. Which order of aquatic invertebrates does NOT form a significant part of the North American river otter's diet?
A) Coleoptera (adult beetles)
B) Odonata (dragonfly nymphs)
C) Hemiptera (true bugs)
D) Plecoptera (stonefly nymphs)
  • 32. Which prey do North American river otters sometimes consume more than fish, depending on regional availability?
A) Small mammals
B) Aquatic plants
C) Crustaceans (crayfish)
D) Birds
  • 33. Which family of fish do North American river otters prefer in Colorado's Upper Colorado River Basin?
A) Catostomidae (suckers)
B) Ictaluridae (bullheads and catfish)
C) Cyprinidae (carp and daces)
D) Salmonidae (trout)
  • 34. What percentage of North American river otter scat samples in an Alberta study contained fish remnants?
A) 75%
B) 60%
C) 91.9%
D) 50%
  • 35. Which terrestrial predator of the North American river otter is known to coexist with it?
A) American crocodile
B) Killer whale
C) American alligator
D) Red fox
  • 36. Which large animal's remains have been found in North American river otter scat, despite not being a regular part of their diet?
A) Ducks
B) Common snapping turtle
C) Mollusks
D) North American beaver
  • 37. Which specific species of amphibian is included in the North American river otter's diet?
A) Northwestern salamanders
B) Green frogs
C) American bullfrogs
D) Boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata)
  • 38. What is the average weight of an adult female North American river otter?
A) 11.3 kilograms (25 lb)
B) 20 kg (44 lb)
C) 8.3 kg (18 lb)
D) 15 kg (33 lb)
  • 39. What distinguishes North American river otters from Eurasian otters in terms of reproduction?
A) Shorter gestation period
B) Lack of parental care
C) Higher litter size
D) Delayed implantation
  • 40. Which reptile is part of the North American river otter's diet?
A) California giant salamander
B) Northwestern salamanders
C) Rough-skinned newt
D) Garter snakes (Thamnophis)
  • 41. What has been particularly valuable in restoring river otter populations?
A) Reintroduction projects
B) Introduction of invasive species
C) Urban development
D) Culling of predators
  • 42. How much of the North American river otter's total length is made up by its tail?
A) One-fourth
B) About one-third
C) Two-thirds
D) Half
  • 43. How many specialized teeth do North American river otters have?
A) 36
B) 28
C) 30
D) 42
  • 44. What type of birds are most vulnerable to North American river otters during summer?
A) Rails
B) Birds in flight
C) Waterfowl broods
D) Colonial nesting birds
  • 45. What year did wildlife management agencies begin reintroduction projects for North American river otters?
A) 1994
B) 2000
C) 1976
D) 1980
  • 46. Which bird species is not mentioned as part of the North American river otter's diet?
A) Mallard
B) Peregrine falcon
C) Canvasback
D) Northern pintail
  • 47. Which subspecies of North American river otter is found in Mexico?
A) L. c. kodiacensis (Goldman, 1935)
B) L. c. canadensis (Schreber, 1777)
C) L. c. pacifica (J. A. Allen, 1898)
D) L. c. sonora (Rhoads, 1898)
  • 48. In which region did a study find crayfish forming nearly 100% of the river otter's diet at certain times?
A) Western Oregon
B) Northwest Territories
C) Alberta, Canada
D) Central California marshland
  • 49. Which subspecies of North American river otter is found on Kodiak Island, Alaska?
A) L. c. lataxina (Cuvier, 1823)
B) L. c. sonora (Rhoads, 1898)
C) L. c. kodiacensis (Goldman, 1935)
D) L. c. canadensis (Schreber, 1777)
  • 50. What is the maximum weight that large male North American river otters can exceed?
A) 15 kg (33 lb)
B) 20 kg (44 lb)
C) 11.3 kilograms (25 lb)
D) 8.3 kg (18 lb)
  • 51. In which Canadian province were North American river otters recently re-establishing themselves?
A) Prince Edward Island.
B) British Columbia.
C) Ontario.
D) Quebec.
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