Know About Animals in Biodiversity Hotspots? Take this Quiz and Find Out!

Natália G.R. de Mello holds doctorate and masters degress in environmental science and works as a contributor for 8 Billion Trees.Written by Natalia Mello

Quizzes Tests | October 3, 2024

An illustration of a man with various animals that belong in biodiversity hotspots.

Many animals suffer from deforestation practices around the world, losing their homes and the sustenance they need to survive. 

With this biodiversity hotspots quiz, you can test your knowledge of the animal kingdom’s role in keeping the planet healthy, and its fight to survive.

Question 1) What is one of the most important ecological roles of Koalas?

They reduce the biomass that fuels uncontrolled forest fires
They are a staple protein source
They prey on herbivores that overgraze forests
They build dams that help to control the quality and quantity of water humans use
  • Koalas feed on excess vegetation in the eucalyptus forests they inhabit.1 If left untouched, this vegetation aggravates forest fires.

Question 2) The Maned Wolf helps to restore one of the world’s least known biodiversity hotspots. What hotspot is that?

A maned wolf, which lives in a biodiversity hotspot, laying in the grass.

The Succulent Karou
The Western Sunda
The Brazilian Cerrado
The Iran-Anatolia region
  • An animal native to South America, the maned wolf feeds on native plant species. They disperse the seeds of these plants in their feces, helping to restore the Brazilian Cerrado.2 

Question 3) Why is the radiated tortoise critically endangered?

Because its habitat, Madagascar’s spiny forest, is being deforested
Because deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in peaking
Because coal mines are expanding in South Africa
Because of forest fires in Nicaragua
  • Most radiated tortoises live in this critically endangered ecosystem in Madagascar,3 which is being cleared for charcoal production.4 These animals can also be found on the islands of Réunion and Mauritius.

Question 4) How can people across the world help to save the Blue Macaw?A man looking into a Blue Macaw enclosure at the Tocantins Fauna Center in Brazil, with an 8 Billion Trees watermark.

Plant trees in Africa
Decrease the consumption of Brazilian beef
Donate to organizations combating forest fires in Australia
Support the restoration of its natural habitat in Nepal
  • Blue macaws inhabit Brazilian forests facing deforestation mainly due to the expansion of cattle ranches.5  High demands for Brazilian beef have been fueling these land-cover change dynamics.6 

Question 5) Deforestation, poaching, illegal commercialization, and encroaching farmland are threatening the Badir’s tapir in ________.

Malaysia
Chile
Nicaragua
Kenya
  • The Badir’s tapir can be found in Central America, but not in Chile, Kenya or Malaysia. In Nicaragua, these animals are facing lots of threats due to unsustainable human activities.7 

Question 6) What animal has not been threatened by deforestation is Kenya’s Aberdare range?

Rhino
Buffalo
Elephant
Lemur
  •  Deforestation threatens lemurs in Madagascar. The other animals are native to the Aberdare range and have been severely affected by deforestation in the area.8 

Question 7) Sealous zebras are critically endangered in Mozambique due to habitat loss and poaching. Why are these zebras important in their ecosystem?

They increase the quality of vegetation in areas where they travel, cutting back old growth and opening up space for new grasses and leaves
They are a key carnivore prey
They help to control insects populations
All of the above
  • Like other zebra species, Sealous zebras play a crucial role in the ecosystems they inhabit.9 Their services favor wild animals, domestic animals, and humans alike.

Question 8) Restoring forests in Nepal helps to save _____.

Himalayan Musk Deer
Giant Anteaters
Andean Foxes
Lemurs
  • Unlike the giant anteater, Andean fox, and lemur, the Himalayan musk deer inhabits threatened forests in Nepal.10

Question 9) What animal below is not threatened by deforestation in the Amazon?

A view of a lush green stream in the Amazon rainforest in Yasuni National Park, Ecuador, with an 8 Billion Trees watermark.

White-Cheeked Spider Monkey
Blue-throated Macaw
Carabaya stubfoot toad
Silky sifaka
  •  The silky sifaka is an endangered lemur species that inhabits Madagascar and cannot be found in the Amazon.11 All of the other animals are threatened by deforestation in the world’s largest rainforest.12

Question 10) How many biodiversity hotspots are there in the world?

16
26
36
46
  • The 36 biodiversity hotspots are distributed across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North, Central and South America.13  The greatest majority of biodiversity hotspots is found in Africa.14

Take Another Quiz:

8 Billion Trees is working to protect and rehabilitate endangered animals in biodiversity hotspots, like the Amazon rainforest, as part of our tree-planting initiatives that are restoring degraded areas around the globe.

References

1WorldAtlas. (n.d.). What Is The Role Of Koalas In The Ecosystem? Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from www.worldatlas.com: https://www.worldatlas.com/feature/what-is-the-role-of-koalas-in-the-ecosystem.html

2Mowbray, S. (2015 , 12 07). The Maned wolf: Saving South America’s largest canid. Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from news.mongabay.com: https://news.mongabay.com/2015/12/the-maned-wolf-saving-south-americas-unfortunately-named-canid/

3Alonso, N. (n.d.). Animals in Madagascar Threatened by Deforestation. Retrieved 07 29, 2021, from https://animals.mom.com/animals-madagascar-threatened-deforestation-5467.html:https://animals.mom.com/list-animals-living-australian-tropical-savanna-10904.html

4Gardner, C. (n.d.). Madagascar’s unique ‘Spiny Forest’ is fast being turned into charcoal. Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from theconversation.com: https://theconversation.com/madagascars-unique-spiny-forest-is-fast-being-turned-into-charcoal-58323

5Anwar, S. (2018, 04 10). Biodiversity Hotspots of the World. Retrieved from www.jagranjosh.com: https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/biodiversity-hotspots-of-the-world-1523356211-1

6Baraniuk, C. (n.d.). Saving the blue parrots of South America. Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from www.bbcearth.com: https://www.bbcearth.com/news/saving-the-blue-parrots-of-south-america

7Hollard, R. (2020, 10 08). Demand remains high for Brazilian beef. Retrieved 07 29, 2021, from www.datamarnews.com: https://www.datamarnews.com/noticias/demand-remains-high-for-brazilian-beef/

8Morel, B. (2017, 09 04). In Nicaragua, a fight to save endangered tapirs. Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from https://phys.org/news/2017-09-nicaragua-endangered-tapirs.html: https://phys.org/news/2017-09-nicaragua-endangered-tapirs.html

9The Guardian. (n.d.). Fencing the Aberdares . Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from www.theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2009/may/11/wildlife-forests

10Mueller, J. (n.d.). What Contributed to the Mountain Zebra’s Endangered Status? Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from animals.mom.com: https://animals.mom.com/bison-vs-yak-3022.html

11Eden Reforestation Projects. (n.d.). Endangered Species in Nepal. Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from edenprojects.org: https://edenprojects.org/stories-from-the-field/2017/08/30/endangered-species-in-nepal/

12WorldAtlas. (n.d.). Madagascar’s Most Endangered Mammals. Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from /www.worldatlas.com: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/madagascar-s-most-endangered-mammals.html

13Stacker. (n.d.). 50 endangered species that only live in the Amazon rainforest. Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from stacker.com: https://stacker.com/stories/3452/50-endangered-species-only-live-amazon-rainforest

14Conservation International. (n.d.). Why are biodiversity hotspots important? Retrieved 07 28, 2021, from www.conservation.org: https://www.conservation.org/priorities/biodiversity-hotspots