Can You Identify the Animals From "The Lion King"?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Identify the Animals From "The Lion King"?
Image: Nick Dolding / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

"The Lion King" hit screens on June 24, 1994, and it was an instant hit. Disney knew that it would be before they released it, as the movie managed to reduce their entire team of animators to tears of pride and joy simply from screening the full opening sequence internally. The teams had worked individually on each piece of the whole and were astonished when they saw what they had created in its final form. The movie was loosely based on the plot of "Hamlet," Shakespeare's great tragedy, and though it was given a happier Disney ending, it certainly dares to tread on some very dark terrain on the way there.

Disney eventually transferred "The Lion King" to the stage, where director and visionary Julie Taymor's dazzling production became a Broadway behemoth that has now grossed over a billion dollars. With the Broadway and movie audiences in mind, Taymor made the smart move of beefing up the female roles, including turning Rafiki from male to female and adding a number for Nala. Some of the additional songs were even added to subsequent DVD releases, such was the movie's popularity and the stage show's success.

With a live-action movie set to debut in 2019, "The Lion King" continues to reign over our hearts. Of course, while the Broadway show inherently had to embrace the unreality of humans playing animals on state, the new movie, like the original, is full of very thorough research on the mechanics and anatomy of the animals it features. This means that it's a great opportunity to re-familiarize ourselves with the denizens of the savanna and the rain forest. How many of the animals depicted in "The Lion King" can you identify? It's time to find out.


Hyena
Pal Teravagimov Photography / Moment / Getty Images
What are these cackling denizens of the savanna?
Hyena
Jackal
Wolf
Dingo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hyenas are noted for their laughing bark, which makes people think of them as always giggling. They're actually not the scavengers they're depicted as being; they often kill their own prey and then lions take it from them, instead of it being the other way around.

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Lion
Picture by Tambako the Jaguar / Moment / Getty Images
Can you name the species of this eponymous hero?
Tiger
Panther
Lion
Big cat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Obviously, this is a nice and easy one; everyone recognizes a lion! Indeed, despite not being native to a great many countries, lions have been adopted as the symbols of leaders and royal houses throughout the world. People are taken with their beauty and power. The movie's excellent research into lion body mechanics is offset by its careful obfuscation on lion family structure; it's likely that a real-world Nala and Simba would be related.

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Mandrill
aiqingwang / E+ / Getty Images
Rafiki is what kind of monkey?
Chimpanzee
Gorilla
Mandrill
Orangutan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This beautiful monkey is depicted in the movie and stage show as being very wise and living a long time. Mandrills were once classified as a kind of baboon, though these days they have their own classification. Curiously, Rafiki is the only character in the movie with a local accent.

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Meerkat
somnuk krobkum / Moment / Getty Images
We all remember Timon, but what kind of animal is he?
Shrew
Elephant
Meerkat
Mole-rat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Timon notes that he doesn't live in his preferred savanna landscape, as the jungle is a place of exile for him as well as Simba and Pumbaa. He is a meerkat, a highly social animal who likes to live in large family groups and would no doubt be very depressed if he found himself without any other meerkats.

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Warthog
Chaithanya Krishna Photography / Moment / Getty Images
What is Pumbaa, Timon's not-so-brilliant sidekick?
Hippo
Rhino
Aardvark
Warthog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As Pumbaa and Timon sing, there was a time, "When he was a young warthooooog!" Pumbaa is depicted as being hairy, a bit dumb and constantly passing gas. Real warthogs aren't necessarily so unappealing, though they are quite funny looking. Like Timon, Pumbaa would not naturally want to live in the rain forest.

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Hornbill
Tom Applegate / Moment / Getty Images
Zazu is one of these birds. What are they called?
Turaco
Hornbill
Ibis
Starling
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Zazu is a hornbill, as Simba notes when he sings, "Kings don't take advice from stupid hornbills, for a start." Zazu is voiced by Rowan Atkinson, which makes him and Scar the only English-accented characters! It's sadly not accurate to depict hornbills as great friends with, or servants of, lions.

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Flamingo
Johann van Heerden / Moment / Getty Images
You see a flock of these birds in the opening sequence. What are they?
Flamingo
African fish eagle
Hoopoe
Bushshrike
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Flamingos are actually not born pink, contrary to popular myth. They hatch as grey chicks and then become pink as a result of eating their preferred diet of tiny little shrimp and a particular kind of algae, both of which contain a chemical that turns them pink. If they were fed a different diet, they might be another color!

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Wildebeest
1001slide / E+ / Getty Images
Who are these stampeding fellows?
Hartebeest
Wildebeest
Eland
Oryx
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The wildebeest stampede is one of the scariest scenes in the whole Disney library, and it leads to the tragic image of Simba sobbing over Mufasa's lifeless body. Wildebeest would generally do their best to avoid lions, their natural predator, though the younger and sicker members of the herd remain vulnerable—though the lionesses are the ones who actually hunt them, meaning Mufasa's appearance would probably be quite a surprise to them.

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Wood mouse
Robert Trevis-Smith / Moment / Getty Images
What's this little guy who often goes unnoticed on the plains?
Shrew
Rat
Wood mouse
Beaver
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In Scar's opening scene, we see him philosophizing with a wood mouse that he tortures by variously treading on its tail and making it run along his paw. While the idea that a mouse was going to be his entire lunch (as he claims) doesn't quite make sense, the image of a large cat playing with its food isn't entirely unfair—and wood mice are indeed a presence on the savanna, though they are too small to tempt lions.

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Big-headed African mole-rat
Wiki Commons by Charles J Sharp
Who's this large rodent?
Big-headed African mole-rat
Meerkat
Otomys
Blesmol
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We see a big-headed African mole-rat appear in the movie to report to Mufasa and Zazu that there are hyenas on the pride lands. In real life, these large rodents are generally unlikely to show up in the same area as a lion, since they prefer to live in the mountains.

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Buffalo
Enn Li Photography / Moment / Getty Images
What is this large cattle species?
Antelope
Sanga
Beisa
Buffalo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

These African buffalo are cousins of the larger American variety. Buffalo are a herd species who tend to group together for safety, and while they are prey, they are also noted for their willingness to fight back when they have to. One of the first truly viral videos featured a herd of buffalo beating up and scaring off a lion and crocodile that tried to take their calf.

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Rock hyrax
James Hager / robertharding / Getty Images
What is this odd fellow that could be related to a rat but isn't?
Rock mouse
Rock hyrax
Rock monkey
Rock rodent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This fellow is also known as the rock badger and rock rabbit, in honor of how it looks a little like both. It's not a big feature of "The Lion King," so blink and you'll miss it!

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Cheetah
WLDavies / E+ / Getty Images
Can you identify this speedy big cat?
Cheetah
Leopard
Panther
Tiger
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cheetahs are not a big role in the movie, but we do see them in the opening sequence, as well as a glimpse here and there. They are the fastest land mammal, a solitary creature who, unlike lions, choose to live on their own or briefly pair up to breed.

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African bush elephant
suebg1 photography / Moment / Getty Images
You know this is a pachyderm, but which type is it?
Asian elephant
African bush elephant
African desert elephant
Bactrian elephant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The African bush elephant is largely responsible for the presence of the savannas, because they knock down small trees—they can deforest large areas. Some varieties of African elephant have now come under such strong selective pressure thanks to ivory poaching that they are starting to be born without horns, a case of evolution coming to the rescue!

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Hippopotamus
Tier Und Naturfotografie J und C Sohns / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images
Nobody messes with this several-ton creature. Do you know its name?
Giant boar
Warthog
Baby elephant
Hippopotamus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We see hippo in the opening sequence and again in the flashback when Pumbaa laments how unwelcome he was at the watering hole. Hippos are one of the largest animals in the Savannah by mass, but if you leave them alone, generally they won't bother you.

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Honey badger
pjmalsbury / E+ / Getty Images
The European counterpart has a stripey head. What's the name of this more solid-colored African variety?
Crazy badger
Southern badger
Honey badger
Sandy badger
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The honey badger, also known as the ratel, is a native species of the African savanna, as well as large swaths of Asia. Unlike its incredibly cute English counterpart, it's quite vicious and not to be messed with. Its aggression sometimes leads it to bite off more than it can chew, with cases of honey badgers trying to take on several lions at once.

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Jackal
Image Source / Photodisc / Getty Images
What is the name of this laughing species of dog?
Hyena
Laughing dog
African wild dog
Jackal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A jackal is a mid-sized species of wild dog, and they're a very effective hunter who work in packs. The variety you'll spot in "The Lion King" are the black-backed jackal, though there are several other subspecies to be found throughout Africa.

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White rhinoceros
RyersonClark / E+ / Getty Images
This is a very endangered species. Do you know its name?
White rhinoceros
Blue rhinoceros
Red rhinoceros
Big rhinoceros
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The white rhinoceros is distinct from some other varieties due to its pale skin and pair of horns. The horns are not actually made of bone or cartilage, but are instead very dense keratin with a somewhat weaker coating. While this is the same stuff of which hair and nails are made, it's not quite accurate to call it hair; it's more similar in structure to a hoof.

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Mongoose
Russell Burden / Photodisc / Getty Images
What's this little creature of the same species as Kipling's Rikki-Tikki-Tavi?
Meerkat
Mongoose
Weasel
Stoat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A mongoose is a type of rodent who is famous for its particular courage in facing down snakes. They are found all over Africa and Asia and appear in Rudyard Kipling's "Just So" stories. They look a little like a meerkat, which is a distant relative, and they come in 29 subspecies!

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Olive baboon
by Marc Guitard / Moment / Getty Images
This large primate goes by what specific name?
Olive baboon
Red baboon
Blue baboon
Sandy baboon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Olive baboons can be found in nearly half of the countries in Africa, making them the most widespread type of baboon. You see them briefly in the movie during "The Circle of Life," but they don't enjoy any speaking roles.

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Chacma baboon
James Hager / robertharding / Getty Images
Can you name this long-faced primate species?
Light baboon
Grey baboon
Chacma baboon
Tall baboon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Chacma" is derived from the Hottentot word for "baboon," which technically means that this splendid animal is named the same thing twice! These are some of the largest varieties of monkey and are notable for their prominent canine teeth.

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Aardwolf
Tom Brakefield / Stockbyte / Getty Images
What is this charming little cousin of the domestic dog?
Earthwolf
Aardwolf
Earthdog
Wolfdog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Aard" is the Afrikaans word for "earth," and "aardwolf" is a common name between that language and Dutch. The aardwolf is an insectivore, despite looking rather like a dog or wolf. They are surely one of humanity's great friends, as they eat termites and can consume literally millions of them every year.

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Sable antelope
Jupiterimages / PHOTOS.com>> / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
What is the correct name for this happily non-endangered prey species?
White antelope
Brown antelope
Leaping antelope
Sable antelope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The sable antelope is a beautiful denizen of wooded areas of the savanna, though their habitat is under considerable threat. They are the national animal of Zimbabwe and were once widespread across much of the southern third of Africa.

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Zebra
Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography / Moment / Getty Images
What is this cousin of the horse called?
African horse
Zebra
Striped horse
Okapi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The zebra is not an easy animal to domesticate, which explains why there are fewer of them outside of Africa than one might expect. No two zebras have the exact same stripes, making these patterns as distinctive as a fingerprint and greatly improving frustration levels among those trying to monitor wild populations!

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Aardvark
Martin Harvey / Image Source / Getty Images
What is this very funny-looking little guy called?
Earth pig
Aardvark
Ground pig
Pig-rat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The aardvark is a very funny creature that looks rather like it was made up of discarded ideas for other mammals. It's larger than is often realized, maxing out at around 140 pounds. It's the only member of its order, Tubulidentata, but there are remains showing that it has a number of deceased ancestor species that were quite similar.

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Black rhinoceros
Mike Hill / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images
What is this rhino species called?
Miniature rhinoceros
Black rhinoceros
Giant rhinoceros
Thick-skinned rhinoceros
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The black rhinoceros isn't literally black, being generally brown or grey, but it's darker than its white cousin. As they both have two horns, it's easiest to distinguish the black rhino by virtue of its hooked lip. You can find them all over eastern and southern Africa.

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Giraffe
Volanthevist / Moment / Getty Images
Who are these long-necked herbivores?
Eland
Oryx
Giraffe
Okapi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Giraffes are a marvelous species who evolved to be able to graze from high trees that other animals cannot reach. They have an excellent set of adaptations to make sure they don't pass out for want of oxygen at the top of that long neck, including special blood vessels and a large heart for their size.

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Okapi
Jupiterimages / PHOTOS.com>> / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
What is the right name for this prey species?
Gazelle
Okapi
Zebra
Antelope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Okapi are also known as the forest giraffe or zebra giraffe, in honor of their longer necks and stripey rear ends. Okapi are only found in the wild in Africa, but there are now captive populations in North America and Europe. Amazingly, these two latter groups all descend from a mere 48 individuals!

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Checkered elephant shrew
Wiki Commons by Elias Neideck
These little guys are found near the water. What's their name?
Checkered elephant shrew
Golden-haired shrew
White shrew
African shrew
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Found in central and southeast Africa, these shrews are sadly somewhat threatened, though efforts are underway to save them. They are also known as checkered sengi. In late 2018, it was announced that comedian Amy Sedaris would play one in the live action "The Lion King," hence its inclusion on our list!

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Gazelle
Adria Photography / Moment / Getty Images
What is the name of this graceful animal?
Lechwe
Nyala
Gazelle
Springbok
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A gazelle is a type of antelope that typically gets to around 165 pounds. They aren't big enough to take on predators like some species occasionally do and thus find safety in gathering in groups. In the dry season, these are as small as ten individuals, but thousands come together during the rainy season.

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Leopard
Image captured by Joanne Hedger / Moment / Getty Images
What spotted species is shown here?
Leopard
Panther
Tiger
Cougar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The leopard is one of the most adaptable eaters in the savanna, willing to chow down on whatever it can get: reptiles, birds, insects and larger prey species. It's the same species as the black panther, and despite its habitat being under threat in many places, it's enormous range means that it will hopefully be with us a long time yet.

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Hartebeest
Michele D'Amico supersky77 / Moment / Getty Images
What is this grazing animal of the savanna?
Wildebeest
Oribi
Impala
Hartebeest
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A hartebeest is another kind of antelope, and it comes in eight subspecies. They have a large range covering more than a dozen African nations, as they like to live anywhere that there is savanna. Their total population is estimated at a hearty 360,000 individuals.

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Vervet
Juergen Ritterbach / DigitalVision / Getty Images
What kind of monkey is this adorable little guy?
Lesula
Macaque
Vervet
Rhesus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Vervets are one of the only two types of monkey native to South Africa itself. They are hierarchical creatures and expect young males to leave the group at puberty, so they do not threaten the order of things. Vervets are considered a pest species by African farmers and thus suffer from intense population pressure. Their most notable characteristic is probably that the males have very bright red-and-blue gentlemanly parts (which we have not depicted here!).

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Giant anteater
Peter Schoen / Moment Open / Getty Images
Who is this bug-eating creature?
Sloth
Giant anteater
Armadillo
Warthog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

These large creatures can grow up to 90 pounds, which is an impressive feat considering how small ants are. The anteater's long snout helps it to sniff them out, and it is untroubled by ants' high acidity. Its nose is forty times more powerful than ours, making up for its relatively poor vision.

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Mountain gorilla
WLDavies / E+ / Getty Images
What highly endangered species is this prince of primates?
Beach gorilla
Desert gorilla
Mountain gorilla
Jungle gorilla
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mountain gorillas are one of the most intelligent primate species, but tragically they are under real threat as they are still hunted for their meat. They like to live at least 6,000 feet above sea level, but there are only about 1000 of them left in the wild—and all of them are found within two large areas. Conservation efforts and the obvious photogenic appeal mean the species will never go extinct in captivity, but it's sadly not unlikely their wild cousins will not be with us much longer.

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Giant eland
Chad Ehlers / Stockbyte / Getty Images
What is this cousin of the sable antelope called?
Waterbuck
Klipspringer
Giant eland
Greater kudu
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Eland" means horse or elk in Dutch, as these animals were given a new name under the Dutch empire. They are not actually related to horses; they're a kind of antelope. The "giant" comes from the size of the horns, though the species is pretty large itself, clocking in at 1400 pounds!

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Crested porcupine
Blanchi Costela / Moment Open / Getty Images
What is the correct term for this prickly guy?
African prickler
Ground grazer
Crested porcupine
Spiked rat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The crested porcupine doesn't have a speaking role in the main movie, but one attacks Simba (in self-defense) in one of the Disney magazine stories set in the "Lion King" world: A tale named "Prickly Problems" features a porcupine named Spike. These animals are found in thirty African countries, as well as in Italy.

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East African oryx
Adria Photography / Moment / Getty Images
Can you name this lithe savanna prey species?
Gemsbok
East African oryx
Lechwe
Steenbok
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The East African oryx comes in two main varieties: the beisa oryx and the fringe-eared oryx, with their habitats being divided by a large river. They reach around 500 pounds, and there are an estimated 363,000 of them, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.

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Common chimpanzee
guenterguni / E+ / Getty Images
What close cousin of ours is depicted here?
Common chimpanzee
Rare gibbon
Macaque
Marmoset
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The common chimpanzee is the closest relative humans have, along with the bonobo. They are incredibly intelligent creatures, and some people have argued that it would be taxonomically correct to categorize them in the genus "homo," in honor of their relation to us.

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Ground pangolin
Image captured by Joanne Hedger / Moment / Getty Images
Lastly, what on earth is this armored beast?
Ground pangolin
Ground armadillo
Ground zebra
Ground shrew
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The ground pangolin is distinct from its cousins who live an arboreal lifestyle, preferring to hang out on solid ground. It's found in the eastern and southern regions of Africa. They can be quite crafty (or lazy, depending on your point of view) and sometimes appropriate underground burrows constructed by aardvarks or aardwolves.

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You Got:
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Nick Dolding / DigitalVision / Getty Images