Can You Name Every Animal in These U.S. Wildlife Images?

ANIMALS

21 PLAYS

By: Craig

7 Min Quiz

Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Snakes, raccoons and even moose! All kinds of animals are found in the United States.

The United States is filled with amazing wildlife, from the East Coast to the West Coast. You might not have known that some of these animals were even living in the United States! Which animal is your favorite?

Do you know the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? What about a rattlesnake and a boa? Can you tell the difference between a moose and a deer? Knowledge of what an animal looks like and its defining features will help you ace this quiz! 

Do you know your aquatic animals that grace the oceans and lakes? How about the majestic birds of the United States? Maybe you even know a little bit about the bugs that roam the country? There's a little bit of each type of animal on this quiz for all animal experts to take their shot at identifying.

Animals come in all shapes and sizes. They can be mammals, birds and even amphibians. Each one has its own way of making the country more beautiful. If you're a true animal expert, it will be easy for you to identify the animals of the United States. So, when you're ready, hop into this wild quiz to see just how much you know!

A three-word answer. Black Bears are the smallest of the bear species found in America. They are known for their ability to climb trees thanks to their short claws which are unable to retract. Black bears are omnivores and eat a range of food, including small mammals, fish (mostly salmon), insects, nuts, fruit, honey and plants. In the United States, estimates put the number of black bears at around 300,000. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

Has a hyphen. The seven-spotted ladybug was introduced to North America in the middle of the twentieth century. It grows to about 8mm in length and is easily identified by the small black spots on its red outer shell. These ladybugs live in trees, fields, shrubs and grass. They eat a range of other insects but love aphids and can eat up to 100 per day. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

Rhymes with loose. The tallest mammals found in America, the moose is the largest of the deer family. Males can weigh as much as 1,800 pounds when fully grown, while their antlers (which are used for fighting) grow to incredible size, often measuring six feet from tip to tip and weighing 40 pounds. In summer, a moose can eat up to 73 pounds of food a day. Their diet consists of vegetation. Unfortunately, in areas such as Minnesota, their numbers are dropping at an alarming rate and researchers have yet to determine the cause for this. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

Two-word answer. American bison are found across the United States. Once, there were an estimated 30 million roaming the land but by 1899, just over 1,000 remained thanks to hunting and a loss of their natural habitat. Fortunately, that number has now grown back to over 500,000 although these are crossbred with cattle. Bison grow up to 11 feet tall and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Which animal is this?

Who knew?

Advertisement

This answer has a color in it. A member of the squirrel family, the black-tailed prairie dog grows to 17 inches high and can weigh up to 3 pounds. They live in active social groups, or coteries, in large complexes burrowed under the ground. They are a critical part of the plains ecosystem. By feeding on the grass and vegetation and by continually digging up the soil, they ensure the areas where they stay are extremely fertile. Which animal is this?

Indeed!

Advertisement

Rhymes with cleaver. A semi-aquatic rodent, beavers are known for their ability to chew wood with their large teeth and build dams on rivers. They do this to turn the surrounding area into large ponds in which they then live. They build their homes in the middle of these ponds, out of mud and sticks. The entrances to their homes are located underwater, protecting them from predators. Beavers grow up to 39 inches in length and weigh close to 60 pounds. Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

This answer starts with S. With its white winter coat and large back feet, it is easy to see how the snowshoe hare got its name. This animal is found in the alpine regions of North America. It grows to about 20 inches in length and weighs up to 4 pounds. Snowshoe hares mostly feed on shrubs, grass, trees and plants. Interestingly, their fur changes color. In summer, it is a light brown while in winter it turns white to help camouflage them in snowy conditions and hide them from predators. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

Round circles on a long appendage. Interestingly, ringtail cats are not cats at all but actually members of the raccoon family. Experts prefer the simple name, ringtail. These animals are easily identified by their long tails with alternate bands of white and dark fur. They also have large eyes with white rings them. These omnivores are incredible climbers and are able to go up 90-degree rock faces, trees or even cacti. They are small, with a maximum length of 24 inches and weigh about 2 pounds when fully grown. Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

This answer has a double c in it. Raccoons live for around three years, grow to about 38 inches in length and weigh as much as 23 pounds. They are found all over America in a variety of habitats, even venturing to the outskirts of cities and residential areas. They eat a wide range of food, including frogs and other aquatic creatures, insects, mice and bird eggs, while in cities they will raid garbage cans. Which animal is this?

Indeed!

Advertisement

This answer starts with F. Flying squirrels are small, weighing up to 140 grams when fully grown and growing to about 340 mm in length. Their fur colors include gray and brown as well as a mixture of the two. Of course, they can't fly, but extra skin on both sides of the body gives them the ability to glide from tree to tree at distances up to 300 feet. They eat nuts, fungi, acorns, and fruit. Which animal is this?

Indeed!

Advertisement

This answer contains a color opposite to white. A medium sized snake, the black rat snake grows up to 70 inches in length. They are found in the eastern United States and feed mostly on rodents and other small mammals, and sometimes eggs. As a form of defense, the snake releases a musk-like smell to chase off predators. Which animal is this?

Did you know that?

Advertisement

A four-word answer. Easily identified by their distinctive curved horns, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep grow up to 3.5 feet in height, around 6 feet in length and can weigh up to 300 pounds. Their horns are they most impressive feature, however. These are used by males for fighting, particularly during mating season, with heads clashing at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. Some battles can last up to 24 hours long! Talk about a serious headache... Which animal is this?

Did you know that?

Advertisement

This answer starts with G. Easily identifiable, thanks to their predominately gray coloring, these foxes can grow to about 15 inches in height and 42 in length. Males can weigh up to 15 pounds. They feed on insects, small mammals, birds and occasionally fruit. They have extremely sharp claws - they are the only fox species able to climb trees. Gray foxes are believed to be one of the oldest fox species on the planet, dating back to over 10 million years old. Which animal is this?

Who knew?

Advertisement

This answer contains a color. With blue-tinted shells and claws, these crabs are instantly recognizable. They are a popular dish in the United States, famed for their sweet tasting flesh. They can grow up to 4 inches long, 9 inches wide and weigh up to two pounds. They live for around three years in the wild. Interestingly, female crabs will only mate once. Which animal is this?

Indeed!

Advertisement

This cat picks a specific state to live in. The official state animal of the state of Florida, these panthers are under serious threat, with only around 100 left in the wild. Males weigh around 75 pounds - much larger than females. They are solitary animals, unless it is mating season or if a female has a litter. Males are known to roam in a 200-square-mile area. They are carnivores and eat raccoons, birds, hogs and rabbits. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

This answer starts with A. With its spotted pattern, the Appaloosa is often instantly recognizable. It was bred by the Nez Perce tribe. Patterns include frost, blanket, marble, leopard and snowflake. Some change their spots over time, while others have no spots at all. Appaloosas are considered a light breed horse and are perfect for riding. Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

This answer starts with H. Humpback whales can grow to 60 feet long and weigh up to 40 tons. Each year, they migrate from the colder water near the earth's poles to the tropical waters around the Gulf of Maine. They can be seen all along the American coast during this migration. They feed on krill, plankton and tiny fish. Whales communicate with each other using a variety of sounds. They are also known to sing, with some of their songs lasting for 20 minutes. Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

One less than 10. Although over 20 species of Armadillo exist, this is the only one found in the United States. Interestingly, most of this species have between seven to eleven bands around their bodies -- not always nine. They weigh up to 12 pounds and grow to 2.5 feet long. Although they are omnivores, around 90% of their diet consists of insects, some small reptiles, small amphibians and bird eggs. The other 10% consists of fruits, plant matter, fungi and seeds. Which animal is this?

How are you enjoying this quiz?

Advertisement

This animal lives fairly high up. Also known as the wapiti or American elk, this deer stands around five feet tall at the shoulder and weighs up to 700 pounds when fully grown. They live high up in the mountain ranges during summer but are forced lower during winter. They live on a range of foliage, bark, bushes and shrubs. Which animal is this?

Did you know that?

Advertisement

This animal hasn't won a gold medal yet. Found in the Olympic Mountains of Washington State, this marmot is an extremely social creature and lives in family groups. They eat flowering plants found in the region, including glacier lilies and lupine, as well as roots. Sometimes they will eat tree bark. In summer, they will weigh up to 15 pounds as they prepare for hibernation. Marmots are known to greet each other by touching noses. Which animal is this?

Indeed!

Advertisement

Known for their distinctly colored tail. Mule deer look similar to Whitetail deer with a few distinct differences such as the size of their ears. Mule deer are herbivores and eat a variety of foliage depending on the season. Which animal is this?

Indeed!

Advertisement

This is a four-word answer. The Virginia Big-Eared Bat can be found in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina. They hibernate and live in caves. They mate in the fall, but females store the sperm over the winter, then continue with reproduction the following spring. Their food of choice is moths. Which animal is this?

How are you enjoying this quiz?

Advertisement

Found in a state starting with A. The official state reptile of Arizona, the ridge-nosed rattlesnake is easily noticed by its unique white facial stripes as well as a ridge on both sides of its nose. This snake lives in the pine canyons found in the Huachuca and Santa Rita mountains in Arizona. Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

This answer starts with W. With brightly marked shells that grow up to 250 mm long, the Western Painted Turtle is easily identified. They are found throughout Canada, right into Mexico. These turtles are omnivores and feed on plants, small fish, aquatic insects and small crustaceans. Their natural predators are otters, foxes and mink, which eat both the turtle and any eggs they lay. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

This answer starts with W. Whiptail lizards live in dense vegetation which helps hide them from predators. If they can, they will live in burrows which offer further protection. Interestingly, some populations of these lizards are entirely female. They lay eggs, which remain unfertilized, with more females hatching from them. They catch small insects and spiders for food. Which animal is this?

Did you know that?

Advertisement

Has a point on the compass in its name. Found all along the eastern United States, from Maine to Michigan, the Eastern box turtle is easily recognizable, thanks to its dome-shaped shell, which is not as flat as other turtle species. It is the state turtle of both Tennessee and North Carolina. Box turtles prefer to live in forested areas and have become a popular pet. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

A four-word answer. The state butterfly of Arizona, the Two-Tailed Swallowtail is easily identifiable thanks to its two distinctive tails and orange/yellow wings with thick black borders. Adult butterflies have a wingspan of around 3 to 4 inches. They are attracted by the following flowers: Arizona sycamore, hoptree, single-leaf ash, Arizona rosewood and bitter cherry. Which animal is this?

How are you enjoying this quiz?

Advertisement

This bird has a tree species as part of its name. A member of the grouse family, the willow ptarmigan is found in the cooler areas of North America. These birds feed on shoots, leaves, berries, seeds and the occasional insect. A female will lay up to ten eggs at a time, which then take three weeks to hatch. The natural predators of these birds include owls, hawks, and foxes. Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

Initials L.B. A member of the sparrow family, these birds are typically found on plains and prairies. Their numbers have declined with human development, however. Its plumage changes with the seasons, from bright to drab. These migratory birds are often seeing flying in large flocks. Lark buntings eat seeds, grain, and insects. Which animal is this?

Who knew?

Advertisement

Also a man or woman's name. Found on patches of grass across the United States, American robins are early risers, often out looking for earthworms. They are easily identifiable by their dark backs and wings and a reddish breast. Other than earthworms, robins also eat a range of insects, spiders and snails, with the occasional berry thrown in. Females lay anywhere from 3 to 7 blue eggs. They hatch within 14 days and the young will leave the nest within 16 days. Which animal is this?

Did you know that?

Advertisement

Has the name of a compass point. A royal blue head and back along with reddish brown breast are the distinct markings of an eastern bluebird. They are found all over the eastern United States, where they hunt for insects, fruits and berries as their daily diets. They tend to prefer open areas with trees as their habitat. Interestingly, the male will put on a display near the area where he prefers to nest. This involves much wing waving as he brings in nest material. If he attracts a mate, she will build the nest. Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

This answer includes a color. Growing up to ten inches in length, the Red Hills Salamander tends to stay underground for most of its life, only hunting at night and not venturing far from its burrow. In fact, the species was only discovered in 1960. They tend to make their home in the damp ground on slopes, particularly in ravines in forested areas. Unfortunately, over half of these salamanders are found in areas where intensive logging is taking place, which is destroying their habitat. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

This answer starts with A. Although it looks like it should be part of the rodent family, the American Pika is more closely related to rabbits. The pika has a rounded body, big round ears and no tail. Pikas live high up in the mountains where their thick coats keep them warm. Unfortunately, in hotter weather, they struggle to control their body temperature which is certainly becoming more of a problem thanks to global warming. They actually gather flowers and grasses during summer and allow them to dry in the sun, ensuring they don't run out in the winter time. Which animal is this?

How are you enjoying this quiz?

Advertisement

This answer includes a color. Gray wolves are not always gray in color -- they can range from black to gray and sometimes even white. They generally eat moose, elk, and other big animals, but will feed on rabbits, beavers and smaller prey. Gray wolves live together in packs of up to eight. These packs use a complex system of communication using barks, growls, whines and howls. Gray wolf numbers had dropped significantly over the last century. Which animal is this?

Did you know that?

Advertisement

This answer starts with S. The largest cottontail, swamp rabbits have a combination of black, dark brown and rusty brown fur. They grow up to 22 inches in length and weigh around six pounds. These rabbits have a range of predators including humans, gray fox, alligators, bobcats, coyotes, dogs and even snakes. For this reason, they mostly spend their days under cover near rivers, creeks, floodplains or swamps, emerging at night to look for food. Swamp rabbits are herbivores and eat grass, tree bark, shrubs and seeds. They are excellent swimmers and often jump into water to swim away from predators. Which animal is this?

Who knew?

Advertisement

The name of a character from X-Men. The largest in the weasel family, wolverines are ferocious creatures. They grow as long as 44 inches in length (tail included) and can weigh as much as 40 pounds. Wolverines are omnivores and include large animals such as moose, mountain goats and caribou in their diets. They even dig into snow to depths of 20 feet to catch hibernating prey. Studies have shown that wolverines will stockpile food, keeping it preserved by storing it under snow. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

Which is it - cricket or frog? These frogs are found in a variety of colors, including brown, red, gray and black. They are easy to identify thanks to a colorful stripe that runs from their nose right down their backs. They are incredible jumpers, capable of leaping 60 times their body length. To put this into perspective, its would be the same as a human jumping from the ground floor to the 38th floor of a building! Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

This answer includes the name of a season. A species of tree frog, spring peepers live in fields, wooded areas or grassy lowlands near water. They are rarely seen but come mating season, you sure can hear them. They make a very shrill noise -- if there are many of them, it can be deafening. They are also very resilient to cold weather and have a form of "anti-freeze" in their blood. Which animal is this?

Did you know that?

Advertisement

This answer starts with S. There are three species of softshell turtle found in the United States - the Florida softshell, the smooth softshell and the spiny softshell. All are very different in appearance and prefer different habitats. For instance, the Florida softshell likes quite ponds, lakes, and swamps while the spiny and smooth softshells prefer large flowing bodies of water. Which animal is this?

Who knew?

Advertisement

This answer starts with M. These small fish live in mangrove areas as well as stagnant pools. They are amphibious, moving to land to catch insects which they bring back to the water to feed on. They also eat smaller fish, snails, worms and crabs. they can survive up to two months out of water! Which animal is this?

Indeed!

Advertisement

This answer starts with C. These fish play an important part in the ecosystems around the Pacific Northwest as they are a source of food for bears, seals, killer whales and birds of prey. They can weigh up to 110 pounds and grow to 5 feet long on occasions. Salmon start their life in rivers, eventually moving out to the open ocean as they gain maturity. These fish can live for three to seven years. Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

This answer starts with the first letter of the alphabet. Most alligators live in slow moving bodies of water, such as swamps. They are often hunted for their skin. Alligators eat a range of prey, including fish, birds, turtles and mammals. As they rely heavily on their teeth, these are replaced quickly as they wear down. An alligator will grow up to 3,000 new teeth during its lifetime. Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

This answer starts with B. Part of the salmon family, these freshwater fish are visually spectacular and green and yellow in color. They live in streams, lakes, and rivers in the Eastern United States. When mating, females can spawn up to 5,000 eggs. Brook Trout eat a variety of food, including small fish, worms, leeches, insects and small amphibians. Which animal is this?

Indeed!

Advertisement

This answer has the name for another animal in it. Bull sharks are found along the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines. They are known to venture far up freshwater sources emptying into the sea. They can be extremely aggressive and their diet includes dolphins, large fish, and even other sharks. Bull Sharks are considered by many to be the most dangerous shark in the sea. Which animal is this?

Really?

Advertisement

This answer starts with H. Found on the east coast of the United States, hellbenders are large salamanders, the largest found in the U.S. in fact. They can grow up to two feet long and weigh as much as four pounds. It is thought that the live up to 30 years old in the wild with their diet consisting of mostly crayfish, along with insects, worms and sometimes smaller hellbenders. These are solitary animals except during mating season. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

This answer includes the name of a U.S. state. These snakes are colored tan and have black/brown patches running down the length of their bodies. They generally reach around five feet in length when mature although some of up to six feet have been recorded. This carnivore feeds mostly on pocket gophers. They kill them through constriction but not by wrapping themselves around their prey. Instead, they pin them against the walls of their tunnels, eventually crushing them. These snakes are not venomous. Which animal is this?

Indeed!

Advertisement

This answer starts with M. There are three types of mudminnows found in the United States - eastern, central and Olympic. Mudminnows eat small snails, crustaceans, and even small fish. As a form of defense against predators, they will bury themselves. Which animal is this?

Did you know that?

Advertisement

This answer includes a color in it. These ants although generally black can also have some red or yellow in their coloring. They grow to around 0.5 inches in length, with the queen to around 1 inch. In nature, they live in logs, stumps or hollow trees. They are often found in homes, especially if they are near or built in wooded areas. Which animal is this?

Is that true?

Advertisement

This answer starts with G. Measuring up to 50 feet in length and weighing close to 40 tons when fully grown, gray whales are seen off the coast of America as they make their yearly migration from the cold waters of Alaska to Mexico, where they breed. Thanks to whale hunting, they were seriously endangered at one point, but luckily their numbers have recovered and they were removed from the endangered species list in 1994. Interestingly, the gray whale does not have a dorsal fin, but rather a small hump on its back. Which animal is this?

Who knew?

Advertisement

Explore More Quizzes

About Zoo

Our goal at Zoo.com is to keep you entertained in this crazy life we all live.

We want you to look inward and explore new and interesting things about yourself. We want you to look outward and marvel at the world around you. We want you to laugh at past memories that helped shape the person you’ve become. We want to dream with you about all your future holds. Our hope is our quizzes and articles inspire you to do just that.

Life is a zoo! Embrace it on Zoo.com.