Animals
European Wildlife
Discover how well you know the varied mammal, reptile, and bird species residing across the European continent.
This is a free, 10-question multiple-choice quiz. Answer each question to see whether you got it right, with an explanation for every answer. There is no sign-up and no time limit — take it as many times as you like, and scroll down for the full answer key once you are done.
Question 1 of 10
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Which wild sheep with large curled horns was native to Corsica and Sardinia and later introduced to continental Europe?
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Answer key & explanations
Every question in this quiz, with the correct answer marked and an explanation of why it is right. Use it to revise before or after taking the quiz above.
1.Which wild sheep with large curled horns was native to Corsica and Sardinia and later introduced to continental Europe?
- AArgali
- BMouflon✓ Correct
- CChamois
- DUrial
Correct answer: Mouflon
The European mouflon originated in Mediterranean island scrublands before being widely established in Central European mountain forests.
2.Which mammal is the largest terrestrial predator native to northern Fennoscandian boreal forests?
- AWolverine
- BGrey wolf
- CEurasian brown bear✓ Correct
- DEurasian lynx
Correct answer: Eurasian brown bear
The Eurasian brown bear reaches weights up to eight hundred pounds in northern Europe, making it the continent's largest land predator.
3.What burrowing blind amphibian lives in deep subterranean caves in Slovenia and Croatia?
- AOlm✓ Correct
- BFire salamander
- CAlpine newt
- DCave toad
Correct answer: Olm
The olm is an aquatic cave salamander adapted to total subterranean darkness with skin-covered eyes and acute non-visual senses.
4.Which wild bovine species roams the scrublands and dehesas of the Iberian Peninsula in semi-feral herds?
- AMarismeña cattle✓ Correct
- BHighland cow
- CCamargue horse
- DHeck cattle
Correct answer: Marismeña cattle
Marismeña cattle are an ancient feral-tolerant Iberian breed adapted to the seasonal marshes of Doñana National Park.
5.Which critically endangered feline is native only to isolated pockets of southern and central Spain?
- AEuropean wildcat
- BIberian lynx✓ Correct
- CJungle cat
- DCaracal
Correct answer: Iberian lynx
The Iberian lynx is distinguished by tufted ears and spotted fur, feeding almost exclusively on European wild rabbits.
6.What stocky mountain goat with magnificent ridged horns dwells along rocky precipices in the European Alps?
- AMarkhor
- BAlpine ibex✓ Correct
- CPyrenean desman
- DBezoar goat
Correct answer: Alpine ibex
The Alpine ibex was preserved in Italy's Gran Paradiso region before naturalists successfully reintroduced it throughout the Alpine arc.
7.Which semi-aquatic mole relative with a long flexible snout lives along mountain streams in northern Iberia and the Pyrenees?
- ARussian desman
- BWater shrew
- CPyrenean desman✓ Correct
- DEuropean mole
Correct answer: Pyrenean desman
The Pyrenean desman uses sensitive mechanoreceptors on its snout to hunt aquatic insect larvae in fast-flowing mountain torrents.
8.Which European vulture depends heavily on dropping mammalian bones onto rocky platforms to shatter and eat marrow?
- ACinereous vulture
- BGriffon vulture
- CBearded vulture✓ Correct
- DEgyptian vulture
Correct answer: Bearded vulture
The bearded vulture, or lammergeier, feeds up to eighty-five percent on bones, cracking heavy ossified material from high flights.
9.What small primate species lives wild on the cliffs of Gibraltar, representing Europe's only wild monkey population?
- ABarbary macaque✓ Correct
- BRhesus macaque
- CVervet monkey
- DOlive baboon
Correct answer: Barbary macaque
Barbary macaques dwell on the Upper Rock of Gibraltar, having arrived originally from the Atlas Mountains of North Africa.
10.Which rodent species builds large multi-chambered burrows across agricultural steppes from France eastward through Europe?
- AEuropean hamster✓ Correct
- BBank vole
- CGarden dormouse
- DStriped field mouse
Correct answer: European hamster
The European hamster, known for its tricolored fur, digs deep underground burrows to stockpile grains for winter dormancy.
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