Image: Shutterstock
About This Quiz
It's easy to lose track of it when you spend most of your life in a single town or city, or around one farm or area, and then generally take a plane to go to anywhere more than a few hundred miles away - but America is big. It's huge. The United States just keeps going and going and going, and however much urban sprawl may lay waste to parts of it and highways may crisscross the entire nation, there are other parts that truly feel like they're in the middle of nowhere.
This means there is plenty of space for all sorts of different topography, climates, micro-climates, and habitats. There are deserts, plains, prairies, wetlands, swamps, forests, and miles upon miles of farmland.ÂÂ
All of this means that a splendid variety of animals can find a place in the USA that suits them just fine. Whether its a grizzly bear that enjoys Wyoming's woodland or mountains, surrounding valleys with meandering salmon rivers, or a coral snake that enjoys the reefs and hot, muggy climate of Florida's coast; whether it's a rattlesnake burrowing into the fierce dry heat of the Arizona desert, or a plain and simple Jersey steer munching on the grasses of the Hudson Valley, there's a spot for them. Do you know where to find them?
Where in the U.S can the American Crocodile be found?
California
Florida
Not to be confused with the alligator, the American crocodile can grow to lengths of nearly 15 feet. They can typically be found in Floridian salt waters during breeding season, after which they migrate to fresh waters.
Washington
Virginia
Where in the U.S. can the American Bison be found?
Florida
The Dakotas
The largest North American land mammal, the American bison has superior senses of smell and hearing, but limited eyesight that causes it to be easily startled. Bison usually live around 20 years and can weigh up to 2,400 pounds.
Hawaii
Puerto Rico
Where in the U.S. can the desert tortoise be found?
Idaho
Nevada
When they're not active, desert tortoises spend about 98 percent of the time underground and primarily eat vegetation, but are also known to eat insects. During springtime, desert tortoises are only active for about three hours out of every four days.
Montana
Iowa
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can the Ocelot be found?
Iowa
Northeastern states
Southern Texas and Arizona
Also known as the dwarf leopard, the ocelot is a species of wild cat native to South and Central America as well as the southern part of Texas, where about 50 cats currently live. They usually weigh between 20 and 40 pounds and can grow up to nearly 5 feet long.
Illinois
Where in the U.S. can the Collared Peccary be found?
Southwestern states
The Collared Peccary is an omnivore, eating everything from small vertebrates to cacti. They usually travel in packs with up to 10 peccaries, but can also travel with as many as 50 individuals.
Midwest
Northeastern states
Alaska
Where in the U.S. can the Ring-tailed Cat be found?
Arizona
Also known as the miner's cat, the ringtail cat weighs about 2 pounds and can grow up to 2 feet long. It's an easily domesticated species, often inhabiting old mines. The ringtail is also Arizona's state mammal.
Alaska
Alabama
Arkansas
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can the Coati be found?
North Carolina
Southern AZ, NM, and TX
The Coati is a member of the raccoon family and only grows to the size of a large domestic cat. They travel in groups called troops and stick their tails straight up in the air so they can keep track of each other.
Indiana
NY and PA
Where in the U.S. can the Red Wolf be found?
NC and FL
Red wolf adults can grow to be 80 pounds and as long as 4 feet, though they are typically larger than the coyote, but smaller than the Gray Wolf. They are primarily nocturnal creatures and reach sexual maturity at 3 years old.
Texas
Hawaii
Arizona
Where in the U.S. can the Northern Sea Otter be found?
Hawaii
Alaska
The northern sea otter is a curious creature who uses its whiskers to detect movements in the surrounding water. They're an inventive, resourceful species with basic problem solving skills as evidenced by their use of rocks as hammers to crack open mollusks.
Florida
Texas
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can the Pygmy Rabbit be found?
Texas
Florida
AZ and NV
ID, OR, and WA
The smallest rabbit species in North America, the Pygmy rabbit digs its own burrows, rather than claiming abandoned burrows and other crevices like most species of rabbit. Pygmies are herbivores with a diet that consists mainly of sagebrush and grasses.
Where in the U.S. can the Silver Rice Rat be found?
Southern Florida
A small rodent species, the silver rice rat can reach lengths up to 28 centimeters and weigh up to 85 grams. They are primarily nocturnal and prefer to live in swampy areas around the Keys.
West coast
Michicgan
Washington
Where in the U.S. can the Sonoran Pronghorn be found?
New York
Rhode Island
Maryland
Arizona
The Sonora pronghorn is an herbivore with a gestation period of around 225 days that usually results in the birth of twins. Both males and females have horns.
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can the Marbled Murrelet be found?
West coast
The marbled murrelet is characterized by its short neck and stocky physique. It's about the size of a robin and usually returns to the same areas and trees to nest each time. It's a hard species to find, as it lives a secretive, discrete life humans rarely get a peek into.
Hawaii
Maine
Florida
Where in the U.S can the Northern Aplomado Falcon be found?
OH and MA
AZ, NM, and TX
The Northern Aplomado Falcon usually hunts in pairs and feeds mainly on birds and insects. The species prefers grasslands, savannas, and open range.
Illinois
Vermont
Where in the U.S can the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog be found?
California
This small frog species lives around sources of freshwater in shallow water and can grow up to 8 centimeters. The yellow-legged frog can spend up to 2 years as a tadpole before maturing into a fully formed frog.
East coast
Midwest
Florida
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can the Black-footed Ferret be found?
South Dakota
The black-footed ferret can grow up to 24 inches long and weigh up to 2.5 pounds. It is classified as an endangered species and is primarily found in South Dakota, but there are very small populations in AZ, CO, MO, ND, UT, and WY as well.
Hawaii
Alaska
Rhode Island
Where in the U.S. can the wood stork be found?
Virgin Islands
Puerto Rico
Southeastern U.S.
The wood stork can grow to have a 65-inch wingspan and reach heights of 50 inches. Baby wood storks are typically gray. They prefer freshwater areas.
Northwestern U.S.
Where in the U.S. can the Audubon's Crested Caracara be found?
Maine
Michigan
Vermont
Florida
A member of the raptor family, the crested caracara prefers to live in open areas and feeds primarily on insects and vertebrates. The species is known to steal food from vultures and are often sighted with the other species.
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can the American Alligator be found?
Southeastern U.S.
In the wild, the American Alligator can live up to 50 years and can weigh up to half a ton. The species can grow to lengths of 15 feet and was once endangered, but populations are now thriving.
Northeastern U.S.
Alaska
Ohio
Where in the U.S. can the Gila Monster be found?
Southwestern U.S.
Out of all the lizards in the U.S,. the gila is the only venomous one. The species can be found in NV, UT, AZ, CA and NM.
Northeastern U.S.
Hawaii
Florida
Where in the U.S. can the Monk Seal be found?
Hawaii
There are only about 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals alive today. They spend most of their time among the northwestern Hawaiian islands and are able to dive more than 300 meters to hunt for food.
Alaska
Maine
Virginia
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can the Roseate Spoonbill be found?
Ohio
Texas and Florida
Owing its color to the pigments of its primary food source, crustaceans, the roseate spoonbill wings its head from side to side when it walks. They prefer to inhabit marsh areas and mangroves, with a wingspan that can grow to lengths of 4 feet.
Pennsylvania
Washington
Where in the U.S. can the Jaguarondi be found?
Texas
An endangered species, the Gulf Coast Jaguarandi is a bit larger than a house cat and is found in southern Texas below San Antonio. Unlike most cats, though, the jaguarandi has weasel-like features and can live up to 22 years.
Washington
Michigan
Oregon
Where in the U.S. can the Northern Elephant Seal be found?
East coast
Gulf coast
West coast
Elephant seal pups are born weighing a whooping 75 pounds, which is nothing compared to the 1,300 pounds they were pushed out of (their mothers). In the wild, the species lives between 13 and 19 years, with the females enjoying a longer lifespan. They eat mainly fish and squid, but are also known to hunt down rays and sharks.
Great Lakes
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can the Mojave Rattlesnake be found?
Southwestern U.S.
Found in desert areas of the southwestern United States, the Mojave rattlesnake is the world's most venomous snake species. Its venom is neurotoxic and hemotoxic, meaning it's toxic to both the nervous system and the blood.
Northeastern U.S.
Midwestern U.S.
Hawaii
Where in the U.S. can the Kit Fox be found?
Washington
Midwestern U.S.
Southwestern U.S.
A member of the dog family, the desert kit fox is a carnivorous creature that rarely needs to drink as it absorbs most of its water through its food. Their primary source of food is the kangaroo rat, and they are typically nocturnal.
Maine
Where in the U.S. can the Channel Island Spotted Skunk be found?
California
This subspecies of the western spotted skunk is native to two of the eight channel islands off the coast of California. The species is nocturnal with a gestation period lasting up to 310 days.
Maine
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can the Nine-Banded Armadillo be found?
Southeastern U.S.
Although their name gives a specific number of bands to expect, the nine-banded armadillo can have anywhere between eight and 11 bands. Although the species is mainly found in the southern U.S., sightings have placed them as far north as Illinois.
Minnesota
Hawaii
Washington
Where in the U.S. can the Desert Bighorn Sheep be found?
Alaska
Southwestern U.S.
Both males and females of the species grow horns, though the male horns are much larger. They are able to reach speeds of 30 mph when traveling over flat land and 15 mph when traveling up mountains.
Florida
Nebraska
Where in the U.S. can the Vaquita be found?
Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of California
Vaquitas are also known as the Gulf of California Porpoise and Cochito. They are native to the waters surrounding the Baja Peninsula and considered the world's rarest marine mammal.
East coast
Great Lakes
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can mule deer be found?
Western U.S.
In the wild, mule deer can live up to 11 years and grow up to 7 feet long. When alarmed, the species "prongs" away, meaning it leaps with all four of its legs leaving the ground at the same time.
Illinois
Wisconsin
Maine
Where in the U.S. can the Kangaroo Rat be found?
Florida
Mexico
Southwest
Able to survive without ever drinking a drop of water, the kangaroo rat gets all the hydration it needs from its diet, which consists mainly of seeds. The rodent species earned its name because it moves in a similar fashion to the Australian kangaroo.
Maine
Where in the U.S. can the Flamingo be found?
Florida
If their diet is not rich in the proper nutrients, flamingos will lose pigment and turn white. There are six different flamingo species.
California
Illinois
Hawaii
Advertisement
Where in the U.S. can the Manatee be found?
Great Lakes
West coast
Southeast coast
Manatees are herbivores with a diet that consists mainly of grasses and other vegetation. On rare occasions, manatees have been spotted as far north as Rhode Island during summer months.
California Gulf
You Got:
/35
Shutterstock