Can You Spell These Animal Species Correctly?

By: Kennita Leon
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Spell These Animal Species Correctly?
Image: Fernando Trabanco Fotografía/Moment/gettyimages

About This Quiz

The species of any living thing is one of the most basic (and easiest) ways that it can be classified or placed within a group. If animals and plants did not interbreed or even evolve, it would be very easy to know them like the backs of our hands. But change is inevitable in nature and thus, we now have thousands, if not, millions of species in existence, some of which are microspecies. The way in which these are identified is by the two-part scientific name that each living thing is given, known as a binomial, and that's exactly what we want to quiz you on today. Could you spell the scientific names (or species) of these animals if we showed you what they were? 

So as we said, we'll give you a list of binomials and it'll be up to you to guess which one of them is the correct spelling for the appropriate animal. If you can get even half of these correct, we'll be extremely impressed by your skill. 

If you're  a huge animal or science lover, it's time to prove how much you know about spelling the names of these animal species. 

Grizzly bear
Wiki Commons By Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith
Which of these options is the correct way to spell a grizzly bear's species?
Urus narcos
Uruusus actor
Ursus arctos
Ruso actor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The grizzly bear is a large population of the brown bear of North America, most of which reside in Alaska. Scientists usually refer to them as North American brown bear, or by their scientific name, Ursus arctos.

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Grey wolf
Wiki Commons ByGunner Ries Amphibol
A wolf is part of the canine family. How is its species spelled?
Canis lupus
Carnis rupus
Cantis surplus
Santis brutus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wolves, also known as gray wolves or timber wolves, are the largest existing member of the canine family. Native to Eurasia and North America, these canines are identified by their large size, pointed ears and muzzles and predominantly mottled gray coat.

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jaguar
Wiki Commons By Ltshears
A jaguar is part of the panthera genus. How is its name spelled?
Panther orca
Panthera onca
Painter roca
Pantone order
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The jaguar, native to North America, is a species of wild cat and the only extant member of the genus Panthera. It is listed as a near-threatened species on IUCN Red List due to its declining numbers as a result of loss and fragmentation of its habitat.

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Zebra
Wiki Commons By André Karwath
Zebra's are also known as Burchell's zebra. Which of the options is the correct way of writing its name?
Equine bush
Equal brunch
Equs bushell
Equus burchellii
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Equus burchellii is a species of zebra known by many names including Equus quagga, the plains zebra, the common zebra, Burchell's zebra and quagga. It is a widespread species ranging from south of Ethiopia, Botswana, East Africa and eastern South Africa.

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Leopard
Wiki Commons By R4robin
One of the five species of panthera, which option is the leopard?
Panther pardon
Painter pard
Panthera pardus
Pinto pader
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The leopard is a member of the Felidae family and one of the five species of the genus Panthera. Found in Africa and Asia, the leopard is recognized by its long body, short legs, large skull and pale yellow and golden coat with black rosettes.

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African bush elephant
Wiki Commons By Charles J Sharp
How would you spell the species of the African bush elephant?
Loxorma africa
Loxodonta africana
Loxy africky
Loxom afro
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The African bush elephant, also called the African savanna elephant, is the largest living terrestrial animal and the larger of the two species of African elephants. It is classified as a vulnerable species due to the destruction of its habitat and poaching for ivory.

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Giraffe
Wiki Commons
The spelling of a giraffe's species is its name, with one added element. Which of the following is it?
Giraffe camelopardalis
Giraffus camelodus
Giraf camelpardus
Giraffio camelio
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The giraffe Camelopardalis is a species of giraffe native to North Africa with three known subspecies. It is commonly referred to as the northern giraffe and the three-horned giraffe and is found in the woodlands, savannahs and shrublands.

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ostrich
Wiki Commons By Stig Nygaard
Which of the options below seems like the correct way to spell an ostrich's name?
Struth camel
Struthio camelus
Strutting camelo
Struffico camelico
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Struthio camelus, known as the common ostrich or simply ostrich, is a species of African flightless birds. It is the largest living species of birds and the fastest flightless bird with a top speed of 43 mph.

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black bear
Wiki Commons By Dr. Raju Kasambe
Which option seems like the way one would spell the American black bear's species?
Urdu aalamica
Ursa major
Uruus europa
Ursus americanus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This medium-sized bear is native to the North American continent. It is the most common type of bear in this region of the world, and also the smallest.

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dolphin
Wiki Commons By Arnaud 25
The dolphin is part of the delphinus genus. How is its name spelled?
Delphinus delphis
Dolphinius dolphin
D. dolphinium
Delphino dolphin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Delphinus delphis, also known as the short-beaked common dolphin, is a medium-sized species of common dolphin. It is more widespread than the long-beaked common dolphin and is found in tropical and warm temperate oceans.

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Hippopotamus
Wiki Commons By Art G.
The hippo's species is its entire name plus another name. Which is it?
Hippopotamus amphibius
Hippophalus ampho
H. armorphogous
Hippolo armorpho
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The hippopotamus amphibius, or common hippopotamus, is the third largest land mammal after the elephant and rhinoceros. It is a semiaquatic, primarily herbivorous mammal indigenous to sub-Sahara Africa.

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coyote
Wiki Commons By Christopher Bruno
The coyote is a known member of the canine family. What do you think is the correct spelling of its name?
Canis latrans
Candor letranis
Cadmus lantioch
Carnis latrano
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The coyote, native to North America, is a species of canine with 19 recognized subspecies. Known as the American jackal, it is a close relative of the gray wolf, along with the eastern wolf and red wolf.

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arctic fox
Wiki Commons By Andreas Tille
The word fox is synonymous with the genus vulpes. Which option is how an arctic fox's species is spelled?
Vulpe lagos
Voler largus
Vulpes lagopus
Vormir largicus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The arctic fox is a small-sized fox known by many names including white fox, snow fox and polar fox. It is indigenous to the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is identified by its thick, warm coat which also acts as camouflage.

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cheetah
Wiki Commons By Author's modification of original by Rob Qld on Flickr.
Although the cheetah is a part of the Felidae family, it isn't of the genus leopardus, but rather, acinonyx. How does one spell its species?
Arcinox julata
Acinio jartus
Arcanas jucakus
Acinonyx jubatas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The cheetah is a vulnerable species of large cat found in North, Southern and East Africa and a few regions in Iran. It is the fastest land animal and is easily identified by its yellowish tan or rufous to grayish white coat, with nearly 2,000 solid black spots.

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Musk Ox
Wiki Commons By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
This bovine is of the ovibos genus. Can you choose the correct spelling of its name?
Ovibos moschatus
Obvious maraschino
Ovobius masachus
O. muchacho
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The musk ox is an arctic hooded mammal which derived its name from the strong, musky odor emitted by males during the seasonal rut. It is a member of the Bovine family and Caprinae subfamily and a close relative of goats and sheep rather than oxen.

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Amazonian manatee
Wiki Commons By Chris Muenzer - Flickr
The Amazonian manatee is part of the Trichechidae family. Which option is how its species should be spelled?
Tichey ingonomous
Trichoma ingenius
Trichechus inunguis
Treacherous inoognon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Amazonian manatee, also called sea cow, is the smallest species of manatee native to the Amazon basin in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. It has thin, wrinkled skin, a white patch on its chest, and fine hairs scattered over its body.

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wild turkey
Wiki Commons By Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
The wild turkey falls under the meleagris genus. Can you tell us how its species should be spelled?
Melander galltropic
M. galapagos
Meleagris gallopavo
Mileena galactic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The wild turkey, native to North America, is an upland ground bird and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. Their habitats include hardwood forests with scattered openings such as fields, pastures, seasonal marshes and orchards.

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Bengal tiger
Wiki Commons By Rishabh25794
The Bengal tiger has three names in its species, unlike the usual two. Which of the options is how it should be spelled?
Patera tigeris
Panather tigris
Panthera tigris tigris
P. tiger
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Bengal tiger is an endangered population of mainland Asian tigers in the Indian subcontinent. It is the largest wild cat alive today and the national animal of India and Bangladesh.

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yellow macaw
Wiki Commons By I, Luc Viatour
This brightly colored macaw is of the genus ara. What is the correct way of spelling its species?
Ares arelila
Ara ararauna
Aurora aura
A. aurilial
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The blue and yellow macaw is a New World parrot known for its long tail and colorful feathers of blue and yellow, hence its name. This brightly colored parrot can be found the forests, woodlands and savannahs of South America.

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puma
Wiki Commons By Mariasolano2000
The cougar or mountain lion is also known as the puma- a name which of part of its species. Which option reflects that?
Puma concolor
Pullup cumpleanos
P. color
Punis controlor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The puma, native to the Americas, is a large wild cat of the subfamily Felinae. It is known by many names including cougar, panther, mountain cat and catamount. It is the largest North American cat and the second-heaviest cat in the New World.

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Moose
ID 12019
The moose's name is simple in that it is the same name written twice. Which of the options is it?
Alcor alco
Alces alces
Alamo aldo
Arcros andros
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The moose, or elk in Eurasia, is the largest and heaviest extant species within the deer family. It differs from other deer species due to its large size and broad, open-hand shaped antlers sported by the males.

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Llamas
Wiki Commons By Bramans
Not a glamorous animal, like its scientific name may suggest, how does one spell a llama's species?
Alama glamor
Llama llama
Lama glama
Lama lama
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Llamas are domesticated camelids indigenous to South America where they are used as meat and pack animals. They are intelligent, social animals and are capable of learning simple tasks after a few repetitions.

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Reindeer
Wiki Commons By Virendra100
Of the genus rangifer, which of the following is how a reindeer's name should be written?
R. tandoz
Rangeed tudor
Ringp tarantula
Rangifer tarandus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Reindeer, known as caribou in North America, are a species of deer indigenous to the Arctic, sub-Arctic, mountainous, boreal and tundra regions of North America, Europe and Siberia. It is a member of the Cervidae family and the Capreolinae subfamily.

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blue whale
Wiki Commons By NOAA
A blue whale is part of the Balaenopteridae family. How do you spell its species?
B. musctoro
Balaenoptera musculus
Balon musquit
Baleen metrolo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The blue whale is a marine mammal and the largest animal known to have ever existed. It has a bluish-gray, long and slender body with a maximum recorded length of 98 feet and a weight of 173 tons.

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mallard
Wiki Commons By Mindaugas Urbonas from Lithuanian wikipedia
The mallard is a waterfowl from the Anatidae family. Which of the options is the correct spelling of its name?
Anna pltyduro
Anas platyrhynchos
Andal p.
Andy platy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The mallard is a dabbling duck of the waterfowl Anatidae family and the Anatinae subfamily. The female of the species sports a brown-speckled plumage while the male has a glossy green head, gray wings and belly with brown the rest of the body.

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green turtle
Wiki Commons By P.Lindgren
Which of these names belongs to the green turtle, a member of the Chelonia genus?
Chelia mindos
Chello mintas
Chil m.
Chelonia mydas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The green turtle is a large sea turtle of the Cheloniidae family and the only species of the Chelonia genus. It is known by other names including the Pacific green turtle, black sea turtle and green sea turtle.

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ocelot
Wiki Commons By Tom Smylie
The ocelot is part of the Felidae family, with the genus, leopardus. How is its name spelled?
Leopardus pardalis
Leopardum p.
Leolardus paradis
Leopa pardonium
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The ocelot is a species of wild cat widely distributed throughout Central and South America, Mexico and southern Texas and southern Arizona in the United States. It is a least concerned species with an estimated 40,000 mature individuals.

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harbor seal
Wiki Commons By Aweith
The harbor seal belongs to the genus Phoca, but how do you spell its species?
Phonta virculina
Phora v.
Phoca vitulina
Pont viricula
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The harbor seal, or common seal, is a species of true seal found in the coastal waters of northern Pacific and Atlantic oceans and the North and Baltic seas. It is a least concerned species and is identified by its brown, gray, tan or silvery-white skin.

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White Stork
Wiki Commons By Ltshears
The white stork is another animal whose species is two of the same word. Which of the options is it?
Citronium citrus
Cancocia elantria
Ciconia ciconia
Cilonthia cranium
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The white stork is a large, carnivorous bird of the stork family Ciconiidae with two known subspecies. It is distinguished by its predominantly white plumage with black on its wings, long, pointed red beans and long, red legs.

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bald eagle
Wiki Commons By Yellowstone National Park from Yellowstone NP, USA
The species given to the bald eagle is a particularly long one. Can you tell us which one it is?
Halinoum l.
H. leathacus
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Hellas lupus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The bald eagle is a sea eagle and a bird of prey with two known subspecies. It is indigenous to North America ranging across Canada, Alaska the contiguous United States and the northern region of New Mexico.

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pheasant
Wiki Commons By DickDaniels
The pheasant, as you may have guessed is part of the phasianus genus. Can you complete the rest of its name?
P. colchino
Phasianus colchicus
Phesantius calcium
Pheasantium c.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The common pheasant is a bird of the pheasant family and a well-known gamebird. It is listed as a least-concerned species and is found in Europe and North America outside its native habitat in Asia.

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Brazilian salmon pink bird-eating tarantula
Wiki Commons By George Chernilevsky
The Brazilian salmon pink bird-eating tarantula's species name shows that it's part of the lasiodora species. Can you tell us how it should be spelled?
Lazydora p.
Lasicolo printroba
Lasico p.
Lasiodora parahybana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Brazilian salmon pink bird-eating tarantula is the third largest species of tarantula in the world. This species of tarantula, native to northeastern Brazil, is a popular choice of pet due to its large size and readiness to breed.

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giant panda
Wiki Commons By Jeff Kubina
The genus Ailuropoda is where the giant panda belongs. But what is its species name?
Aioli melonapedia
Aulopedic melanus
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
A. melanogaster
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The giant panda, known as panda bear or panda, is a species of bear indigenous to South Central China. It is known for its distinct appearance which consists of black patches around its eyes, over the ears and across its body.

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polar bear
Wiki Commons By Alan D. Wilson
The polar bear, like most other bears, belongs to the genus ursus. Do you know how its species is spelled?
Ursus martime
Ursus maritimus
Ruusus m.
Ursus minor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The polar bear, also known as the white bear, is a large, hypercarnivorous bear which inhabits the Arctic Circle. It is identified by its thick, solid white coat which protects it from the cold on land and in the sea.

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snowy owl
Wiki Commons By NaturesPhotoAdventures
The snowy owl belongs to the class aves and the genus bubo. What do you think is the correct spelling of its name?
Bubo scandiacus
Bulba saurus
Bubo sauracticus
Bilbo scandinavia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The snowy owl is a large, white owl of the true owl family Strigidae and a native to the Arctic regions of Eurasia and North America. They are a nocturnal, carnivorous species which primarily hunts rodents and waterfowl at night.

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wild yak
Wiki Commons By Aiims.ashu
The genus Bos is where the wild yak belongs. But do you know how to spell the rest of its species name?
Bos muting
Bos mutus
Boso m.
Bos modos
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The wild yak is a large, wild bovid and the ancestor of the domestic yak. It is native to the Himalayas and is characterized by a robust frame, sturdy legs, rounded cloven hooves and shaggy fur with a dense woolly undercoat over the chest, flanks and thighs.

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raccoon
Wiki Commons By Harlequeen from Cambridge, United Kingdom
Of the genus procyon, can you spell the rest of the raccoon's species name?
Procyon motor
Procyon lotto
Proxy lottor
Procyon lotor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The raccoon, native to North America, is a medium-sized mammal and the largest species of the procyonid family. It is known by many names including the common raccoon, North American raccoon, northern raccoon or coon.

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killer whale
Wiki Commons By Aiims.ashu
Of the orcinus genus, do you know how to spell the species of the orca?
Orca orca
Orcinus order
Orcinus ordras
Orcinus orca
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The killer whale, or orca, is a toothed whale and the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. It is an apex predator and feeds primarily on fish and other marine mammals such as dolphins and seals.

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chimpanzee
Wiki Commons By Thomas Lersch
The common chimp is of the genus Pan and not the same as us humans, as many believe. Can you spell its species name?
P. tricomania
Pan trigonom
Pan trygolodon
Pan troglodytes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The chimpanzee is a species of great ape known as the common chimpanzee, robust chimpanzee or simply "chimp." It is easily recognized by its coarse black hair and bare face, hands, feet, fingers, toes, palms and soles of the feet.

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American badger
Wiki Commons By Jonathunder
The American badger is one member of the Mustelidae family, under the genus taxidea. How is its scientific name spelled?
Taidea trino
Taxidermy t.
Taxidea taxus
Taxidea tax
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The American badger is a short-legged omnivore native to North America specifically western and central United States, south-central Canada, and northern Mexico. It is a member of the Mustelidae family and is found in open grasslands and prairie regions.

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Fernando Trabanco Fotografía/Moment/gettyimages