Image: Rod Morris | DOC
A skink perched on a branch.
Wednesday | Rāapa Conservation Week quiz
Wednesday's quiz – nocturnal friends and creepy crawlies!
Q1: True or false, the pekapeka/long-tailed bat can carry 80% of its body weight.

A person holds a small bat in their hand.
A long-tailed bat
Image: Rod Morris | DOC

No, this one is true.

That's right.

Q2: Which of these species doesn’t hatch from an egg?

An egg sits on the ground in a wooded area.
A North Island brown kiwi egg
Image: Peter Morrison | DOC

No, the answer is the black-eyed gecko.

Native to Aotearoa New Zealand, Archey’s frog is one of the few frogs in the world that hatches from an egg and skips the tadpole stage.

Black-eyed geckos, on the other hand, give birth to live young.

Correct.

Native to Aotearoa New Zealand, Archey’s frog is one of the few frogs in the world that hatches from an egg and skips the tadpole stage. Black-eyed geckos, on the other hand, give birth to live young.

Q3: How many legs do ngāokeoke/velvet worms have?

A small worm crawls across rocks.
Ngāokeoke/velvet worm
Image: C Hibbert | DOC

Wrong. The answer is 13-16 pairs!

Correct!

Q4: True or false, only female cicadas sing.

A cicada sits on a tree trunk.
Cicada
Image: Dick Veitch | DOC

This one is false!

Female cicadas can’t sing, but they listen out for the best musician amongst the male cicadas to choose a mate.

Correct!

Female cicadas can’t sing, but they listen out for the best musician amongst the male cicadas to choose a mate.

Q5: What survival skill do mountain stone wētā have?

A wētā sits among bits of broken bark.
Mountain stone wētā
Image: Bruce McKinlay | DOC

That would be useful, but no, it's the ability to survive freezing cold.

In a storm, they can survive up to 82% of the water in their bodies freezing!

Correct. 

In a storm, mountain stone wētā can survive up to 82% of the water in their bodies freezing!

Q6: What’s the fastest recorded flight speed for a pekapeka/long-tailed bat?

A bat flying with wings outstretched.
Long-tailed bat
Image: Chris Hillock | DOC

No, it's 60 km/h.

Yes indeed. 60 km/h is correct.

Q7: How many Department of Conservation huts can you stay in across Aotearoa New Zealand?

Large wooden hut positioned at the foot of mist-clad wooded hills.
Welcome Flat Hut
Image: DOC

No, it's 950!

Don’t worry, you’re not likely to be sharing a hut with any of the creatures in this quiz.

Find out about all the places you can explore from our huts here.

Stay in a hut

Yes, 950 is correct!

Don’t worry, you’re not likely to be sharing a hut with any of the creatures in this quiz.

Find out about all the places you can explore from our huts here.

Stay in a hut

Q8: How can I support these cool creepy crawlies without getting too close?

A butterfly sits on the steam of a well-browsed looking plant.
Tussock butterfly
Image: DOC

You're best to watch a documentary instead.

Leaving scraps out is more likely to attract pests than anything else! Getting educated is a great way to support nature – once we understand something, it is much easier to care for it.

Yep.

Leaving scraps out is more likely to attract pests than anything else! Getting educated is a great way to support nature – once we understand something, it is much easier to care for it.

Q9: True or false, powelliphanta snails slurp up earthworms the same way that we do spaghetti.

Closeup of a snail crawling across rock.
Powelliphanta snail
Image: Rod Morris | DOC

Incorrect. They do eat worms spaghetti-style.

Correct!

Q10: When was the Alborn skink discovered?

A skink perched on a log.
Alborn skink
Image: © James Reardon

No. Alborn skinks were discovered only 35 years ago in 1990! With only 30 individuals estimated to be living today, significant work is needed to support the recovery of this species. You can find out more and make a donation here.

Alborn skink | NZ Nature Fund 

That's right!

Alborn skinks were discovered only 35 years ago! With only 30 individuals estimated to be living today, significant work is needed to support the recovery of this species. You can find out more and make a donation here.

Alborn skink | NZ Nature Fund

That's Wednesday's quiz done, thanks for playing.

Tomorrow's theme is wetlands.