Q 01/05

Why do Florida manatees sometimes gather around a running garden hose at a dock?

A) To cool off

B) To drink fresh water

C) To rinse off salt

D) To play in the spray

Answer · why

B) To drink fresh water

To drink fresh water: manatees in salty bays seek it out at river mouths, culverts and hoses. Offering it is against Florida's rules, because animals ...

Q 02/05

Which agency gave two ships based near Cape Canaveral water-jet thrusters so they would not harm local manatees?

A) NOAA

B) NASA

C) The Navy

D) The Coast Guard

Answer · why

B) NASA

NASA's Freedom Star and Liberty Star, which towed spent space shuttle boosters home, got a water-jet thruster because their base was on the manatee-ri...

Q 03/05

Wildlife biologists use which farmyard term for an adult male manatee?

A) A boar

B) A ram

C) A bull

D) A buck

Answer · why

C) A bull

A bull: the terms follow cattle, with females called cows and their young calves. Bulls leave once breeding is over and play no part in raising a calf...

Q 04/05

What is the leading human-related cause of manatee deaths in Florida?

A) Overfishing

B) Habitat loss

C) Boat collisions

D) Pollution

Answer · why

C) Boat collisions

Collisions with boats and other watercraft are a leading cause of injury and mortality for manatees, particularly in areas with heavy human activity.

Q 05/05

In South Park's 'Cartoon Wars', which animated sitcom is revealed to be written by a tank of manatees?

A) The Simpsons

B) Futurama

C) King of the Hill

D) Family Guy

Answer · why

D) Family Guy

Family Guy's jokes, the episode claims, come from manatees nudging 'idea balls' marked with nouns, verbs and pop-culture references into a machine; ta...