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About This Quiz
Can you imagine your life without Fluffy or Fido or even your beloved corn snake, William Snake-speare? Humans have long been partial to keeping a four- (or more!) legged friend by our side. In pre-historic days, animals such as dogs, and even wolves, were kept for their abilities to aid in hunting or protecting a household. Cats were later added to the mix, when we figured out they were good at ridding homes of rodent pests.
It wasn't until Egyptian times that keeping a pet as a companion became a real consideration. All you have to do, though, is look at old murals of hieroglyphics that show reverential awe toward dogs and cats, in particular. For the royal figures and aristocracy of the day, having a "pet" was something of a status symbol.
Today, it's almost as if you can't enter a home without seeing some type of household pet, be it a dog, cat, bird or fish. You may even know some folks who "think outside the (litter) box" and have unusual "pets," such as spiders, snakes, pigs, even hedgehogs. You've probably seen videos on social media of animals who've been turned into the household variety, but probably shouldn't: have been, such as buffaloes, monkeys and tigers - oh my!
In this quiz, we're presenting you with some clues on common household pets of the day. See how many of these furry, scaly or slimy friends you can recognize ... and how many you'd let into your own home!
Hillary Kladke / Moment / Getty Images
This pet has grown to be so popular, it holds the title of "man's best friend." Which animal is it?
Dog
With more than 300 breeds from which to choose (although the American Kennel Club recognizes only about 200), ranging from teacup poodles to enormous Great Danes, dogs have been keeping man (and woman) company for thousands of years. You should do your research to you choose the one that best fits your family and lifestyle.
Donkey
Capybara
Gerbil
Michael Kloth/Corbis / Corbis / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Watch them cut a rug! Which of these household pets turns to dancing when it's trying to play?
Parakeet
Ferret
It's not a dance you'd recognize like a tango or salsa, but ferrets do engage in dance-like movements when they want to play. Alternately, ferrets in the wild engage in this behavior, which includes puffing up their tails and swaying from side to side when they feel threatened.
Garrett
Iguana
Juana Mari Moya / Moment / Getty Images
Want a pet who'll talk back to you? Which of these animals is known for imitating what it hears?
Pigeon
Parrot
Parrots are known for their intelligence and repeating words and phrases that they hear. That's where the word "parroting" comes from, which means to repeat something back mindlessly, as in, "He parroted what the realtor had said earlier."
Dove
Mockingbird
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Which of these household pets needs to chew continually to wear down its ever-growing teeth?
Guinea pig
Though not a pig and not from Guinea, the so-named Guinea pig has teeth that never stop growing. This requires them to chew (a lot!) to keep them worn down. By the way, Guinea pigs originally hail from the Andes.
Tortoise
Rabbit
Lizard
Pyza / Puchikumo / Moment / Getty Images
You might feel like you're on one of these at work. Which of these animals relies on a wheel to get its exercise?
Guinea pig
Hamster
Hamsters require a lot of exercise, which can be tricky when you're caged all the time. This is where a wheel in the cage or a ball that can be used outside the cage can come in handy.
Armadillo
Pygmy goat
Sbayram / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these pets requires extra care to prevent the spread of salmonella they carry with them?
Beta fish
Turtle
The notoriously slow turtle can make a good household pet if you handle them with care. Turtles carry salmonella, which they excrete in their stool. So, if you're handling a turtle or scooping its poo, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands!
Tarantula
Iguana
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In a survey, women said single guys who own this type of pet are nicer than other men. What is it?
Cat
It's true! Women apparently appreciate a man who keeps a cat as a pet. Of course, most women appreciate men who are animal lovers, but cat owners, specifically, were deemed to be nicer individuals overall. Who knew?
Dog
Pig
Horse
Asbe / E+ / Getty Images
These popular pets are pretty territorial. Which of these is best to have only one of per household?
Ferret
Iguana
Iguanas like their own space, so having more than one in a household might not be a great idea. These solitary animals do best when not exposed to other iguanas, particularly in their own space!
Skink
Skunk
Digital Vision. / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Looking for a hypoallergenic pet? This unconventional choice comes in a "micro mini" size. What is it?
Horse
Pig
Pigs are growing in popularity as household pets. You may not want a pot-bellied pig roaming your halls, but the micro mini- or teacup-sized oinkers are making a splash among families. They are so darn cute!
Rooster
Lamb
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If you get a "hob" and a "jill," you might end up with "kits." Which household pet includes hobs, jills and kits?
Gerbil
Gerbils are a common household pet choice because they are easily contained and entertaining to watch. Male gerbils are called "hobs," while their female counterpart is a "jill." Together, their gerbil babies are known as "kits."
Hedgehog
Porcupine
Armadillo
Pixabay by Amayaeguizabal
If you had two or three of these unusual household pets, you'd have an "array." Which pet is it?
Hedgehog
It's easy to see why people fall in love with the adorable little hedgehog as a pet, despite the prickly spines present all over its body. Be careful, though. Hedgehogs as pets are illegal in some parts of the country, including California and New York City.
Aardvark
Peafowl
Hamster
Pixabay by NickyPe
It should be easy to find one of these as a pet – they outnumber human beings by more than three to one. What is it?
Ostrich
Chicken
Chickens outnumber humans -- 25 billion of them compared to roughly 8 billion of us, although that number varies, depending on the source of the data). However, there's no doubt there are a lot more chickens in the world than humans! And although chickens can be suitable as pets, you may not want to have them running around inside your house! One of the best breeds to keep as a family pet is the Silkie, named as such for its silky smoothness.
Goat
Emu
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This animal might require a serious time commitment! Which of these species' oldest living pet lived to be 45 years old?
Octopus
Eel
Goldfish
Goldie was the world's oldest goldfish when he died in 2005 at his owners' home in Devon, England. When properly cared for, goldfish can live for a long time. They're also believed to recognize people's faces. That's a good thing if you're going to live with the same people for four decades!
Shark
Krit of Studio OMG / Moment / Getty Images
Long on ears and short on tails, which of these animals can be a sociable and entertaining addition to a household?
Chinchilla
Rabbit
Rabbits are among the most popular specialty pets for households, according to statistics from the American Veterinary Association. They can be playful and entertaining to watch.
Tortoise
Tarantula
Sergio Amiti / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these pets surged in popularity after a blockbuster animated movie featuring the species?
Sturgeon
Barracuda
Clownfish
"Finding Nemo" (2003) features a clownfish named – you guessed it – Nemo. The popularity of this type of fish grew exponentially after the success of the movie, being added to household fish tanks the world over.
Beta
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Fernando Trabanco FotografÃÂÂa / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these household favorites is a "spokes-reptile" for a company that shares a similar name?
Gecko
A gecko is an easy-to-keep household pet because it doesn't grow to be very large in size and can live for a long time. Fun fact: Geckos can lose – and regrow – their tails with ease, which allows them to escape predators more easily.
Basilisk
Crocodile
Chinchilla
Wiki Commons by Gazebo
Forget to feed this pet and he may never forget. Which of these breeds has a long-lasting memory?
Miniature donkey
Some people think donkeys aren't very smart, but their exceptional memory says otherwise. This ability also makes them easy to train because they remember new skills and adapt, as needed.
Horse
Llama
Emu
Pixabay by MabelAmber
Which of these birds, often kept as pets, may regurgitate its food as a sign they accept you as family?
Toucan
Parakeet
Parakeets may regurgitate their food, not to gross you out, but to show you they accept you as part of their family. This is similar to what they do when they feed their young.
Hummingbird
Goldfinch
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Which of these pets has very dense fur, a result of 60 to 80 hairs growing out of each hair follicle?
Hamster
Chinchilla
The chinchilla is considered a rodent, roughly the size of a typical squirrel, and has grown in popularity among pet lovers. Their dense hair helps them adapt to extremely cold conditions in the wild, but your home temperature will suit them just fine.
Rat
Mouse
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Which of these household pets can you find in plentiful supply at beach souvenir shops?
Oyster
Mollusk
Starfish
Hermit crab
Hermit crabs are plentiful at beach souvenir shops, where they're often given away with the purchase of a small habitat. Most hermit crabs will need to be moved to larger aquariums, though, to give them room to roam and safeguard them from suffocation.
Tao Xu / Moment / Getty Images
If you're going to get one of these as a pet, you'll need at least an acre of land. What is it?
Donkey
Horse
Having a horse may seem like it wouldn't take much work or extra effort. After all, they eat grass and spend a good portion of their day standing around. But if you're going to get one as a pet, experts recommend having at least one acre of land for a horse to get the adequate amount of exercise it needs.
Pig
Burro
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This potential pet comes in a variety of sizes and species, including nubian, dwarf and pygmy?
Pony
Sheep
Lamb
Goat
Goats, particularly the dwarf or pygmy varieties, are gaining popularity as pets due to their active, playful nature. But, be warned: That nature also requires plenty of room to roam.
Antagain / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these potential pets requires frequent affection and handling to damper their tendency to bite?
Hamster
Rat
Yes, rats like to bite, but that doesn't mean you can't learn to keep one as a pet. Experts recommend you handle them gently and frequently so they learn to accept you as part of their family – and cut back on the bites.
Mouse
Gerbil
Geraint Rowland Photography / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these household pets should be purchased in twos due to their need for socialization?
Capybara
The capybara looks a lot like a beaver but is known as the world's largest rodent. If that's not a good enough reason to NOT have one as a pet, their propensity to roll around in mud might seal the deal. Yet, some people adopt them and keep them as pets. Go figure.
Guinea pig
Squirrel
Monkey
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If you like to walk on the wild side, which of these potential household pets' sting has been compared to a mild bee sting?
Chameleon
Black widow
Scorpion
If you can get past the idea of having a scorpion in your house, experts agree they make decent pets because they don't require much space and are relatively inexpensive. They have been known to sting, however, but some popular pet varieties, like the emperor scorpion. have a sting similar to that of a bee.
Tarantula
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Which of these pets should you buy if you want the "world's largest spider" living in your home?
Tarantula
For some, the very thought of having a tarantula in their home is enough to give them the willies. Others actively seek out this spider species as a pet, an arachnid known as the world's largest spider species.
Wolf spider
Missulena
Dysderids
Elizabeth W. Kearley / Moment / Getty Images
We're just as shocked as you are! Which of these animals can you own as a pet as long as you have a special permit to do so?
Bearded dragon
Alligator
You'll never find one in our house, but people with the proper training (please!) and a special permit to do so can legally own an alligator in certain parts of the U.S. But please try not to end up on the evening news!
Lizard
Iguana
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Which of these species was originally bred for hunting but has since become a pet favorite?
Canadian Goose
Rabbit
Call Duck
Call ducks, so-named because they were originally bred to help during hunts, are now bred to serve as family pets. They are friendly and entertaining, but watch out! Their vocal nature might not sit well with nearby neighbors.
Parrot
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You may not be able to afford more than one of these since they can eat three percent of their body weight daily. What is it?
Giraffe
Cow
Most people think of cows as working animals, but some people raise them as pets. They're an expensive investment, however, and probably best left to a barn and not inside your home.
Horse
Pig
Fotografixx / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these household pets' name is derived from the folds under its neck?
Bearded dragon
Bearded dragons don't actually have beards (though it would be cool if they did, don't you think?). Instead, their name is derived from the folds of skin under their necks that give the animals a bearded appearance.
Sugar glider
Iguana
Chameleon
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Wiki Commons by User:tychay
Most people don't want this type of insect anywhere near their property, but others keep them as pets. What are they?
Hissing Cockroaches
The term "pet" and "hissing cockroach" don't sound like they belong in the same sentence. But some people enjoy keeping them as their animal of choice. The hissing sound means one of three things: They're looking to mate, they feel threatened or they're ready to attack. Good luck figuring out which.
Mealworms
Praying Mantis
Butterflies
KenCanning / E+ / Getty Images
If you want to keep one of these as a pet, you'll want to have their glands removed. Which animal is it?
Sabertooth tiger
Skink
Skunk
Believe it or not, skunks can – and are – kept as household pets in some places. However, it requires their glands to be removed when they're quite young. You can't do this legally everywhere, so check your local laws.
Squirrel
Wiki Commons by Wm Jas / 邰秉宥
Which of these three- to five-ounce household pets has a scientific name that means "short-headed rope dancer"?
Iguana
Sugar rocker
Gerbil
Sugar glider
The sugar glider's scientific name, petaurus breviceps, means "short-headed rope dancer." This is a reference to their acrobatic-type movements, which includes a motion similar to flying or gliding through the air.
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Don't freak out ... yet! This reptile is commonly chosen as a household pet for its non-aggressive behavior. Which is it?
Anaconda
Corn snake
Not all snakes are the aggressive, biting type you see on wildlife programs on television. Some people enjoy keeping a snake as a pet and may choose the corn snake for its non-aggressive nature.
Boa constrictor
Rattlesnake
Pixabay by Cegoh
This animal's free-spirited nature may make him difficult to domesticate, but people have done it. Which animal are we referring to?
Sloth
Chimpanzee
Howler monkey
Squirrel monkey
If you've always dreamed of owning a monkey, the squirrel variety may be your best bet. These creatures are pretty rambunctious, however, and highly social. They are high maintenance and require a lot of time and attention.
Keiichihiki / E+ / Getty Images
This Australian breed requires its owner to be designated as a registered carer of wildlife. What is it?
Llama
Wombat
Most people agree: You shouldn't keep a wombat as a pet. But that hasn't stopped some Australians, where the animal is native to, from trying. But if you do want to keep a wombat as a pet, you will have to move to Australia. Don't attempt to export them out of the country, though. That's illegal.
Chinchilla
Wallaby
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Which of these exotic pets might require you to have a large dirt pit to satisfy their need to burrow?
Groundhog
Prairie dog
Prairie dogs in the wild love to burrow underground, creating tunnels and channels through which they can move. You can domesticate these animals somewhat, but they never lose that need to dig, dig, dig!
Meerkat
Gopher
itsabreeze photography / Moment / Getty Images
Which of these pets is the closest you'll safely get to having a "wild"-looking animal in your house?
Bengal cat
On the outside, the Bengal cat's coloring reminds you of its wild ancestors. But with the heart of a domesticated house cat on the inside, this is one kitty you'll be happy to welcome into your family. Beware, however, this breed of cat is continuously active and high energy.
Savannah cat
Maincoon
Prairie dog
Pixabay by HansLinde
Which of these animals makes both an unusual pet and the beginnings of a blanket due to its soft coat?
Alpaca
An alpaca can make a decent household pet due to its easy care and training. Alpacas are incredibly soft, and their hypoallergenic fleece is also often shorn to make everything from bedding to clothing.
Llama
Wombat
Squirrel monkey
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Pixabay by MabelAmber
You may be able to sell your lawn mower if you get one of these as a pet. What is it?
Swan
Duck
Goose
Get a goose for your house, and you can bid adieu to your lawn mower. These birds love grass, which accounts for roughly 70% of their diet. It's like having a pet and somebody to share the chores, a two for one deal that's hard to pass up!
Pigeon
You Got:
/40
Image by Chris Winsor / Moment / Getty Images