Can You Identify the Animal From Its Paws?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Identify the Animal From Its Paws?
Image: MamiGibbs / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The animal kingdom is vast, and each animal in it is unique in its own right, which is one of the reasons this kingdom is so fascinating to animal lovers. For many animals, one of the unique aspects they carry around is their paws. Not every animal has paws, after all, and for the animals that do, they have paws that are distinct to themselves. How well do you know the paws of the animal kingdom? Take this quiz to find out.

Of course, before you start claiming you are an animal expert and take this quiz to prove it, you should probably make sure you know which groups of animals even have paws. There are many characteristics of a paw, though these characteristics vary from animal to animal. Typically, a paw is determined to have pads for cushioning and claws that are used for a variety of purposes. That means paws belong to a wide variety of animals. 

Do you know which animals have these characteristics? Even if you know which animals have paws, will you be able to determine one paw from another? That's exactly the challenge you're facing here, so you'd better prepare yourself adequately.

When you are ready, though, get started and see if you can paw your way to a high score on this quiz.

Q 01 Tiger
Pixabay by Pixel-mixer
This paw belongs to the biggest cat around. What animal is it?
Lion
Tiger
Cougar
Leopard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tigers are easily identifiable by the stripes that run across their fur. To add to their uniqueness, these large cats, weighing as much as 600 pounds, also have stripes that run across their skin.

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Q 02 German Shepherd
Pixabay by 1187283
Do you recognize this paw that stems from the leg of one of the most popular dogs used by cops?
German shepherd
Labrador retriever
Greyhound
Siberian husky
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

German shepherds were first bred in Germany by Max von Stephanitz at the end of the 19th century. He started the breed after realizing that shepherding dogs in Germany needed a standard to look to.

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Q 03 Brown bear
Wiki Commons by NPS/Kaiti Critz
Alaskan fish are terrified of the powerful paw of this animal. Can you identify it?
Polar bear
Black bear
Brown bear
Giant panda
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most people picture brown bears traveling around eating any flesh of meat they can get their hands on. However, these animals are actually omnivores, which means they also eat foods like nuts and berries.

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Q 04 Raccoon
Pixabay by Alexas_Fotos
If you live in North America, you might find which animal whose paw is depicted here digging through your garbage?
Squirrel
Chipmunk
Beaver
Raccoon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Raccoons are quite fond of trees, but that doesn't mean these mammals are limited to forrest in rural areas. One of the most adaptable creatures in North America, raccoons can also be found in urban centers with a variety of climates.

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Q 05 Poodle
Motofish Images / The Image Bank / Getty Images
How well do you know this paw that connects to a canine which is considered the aristocrat of dogs?
Dachsund
Basset hound
Poodle
Border collie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There was a time when poodles weren't viewed as a dog of luxury but were instead used for hunting. To better help them accomplish this task, hunters would shave poodles to make swimming easier for them.

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Q 06 Ferret
GK Hart/Vikki Hart / Stone / Getty Images
Are you familiar with the domesticated animal that this paw comes from?
Ferret
Hamster
Rabbit
Mouse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ferrets come in a variety of colors from white to silver to cinnamon. For the vast majority of ferrets that are domesticated, they cannot survive for more than a few days in the wild.

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Q 07 Bobcat
Andyworks / E+ / Getty Images
A known predator in the forests of the United States, select the animal that this paw belongs to.
Ocelot
Coyote
Mountain lion
Bobcat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With the ability to take down prey much bigger than them, the bobcat can launch a leaping attack from 10 feet away. Prey has to always be on alert because bobcats are very elusive and use stealth to hunt.

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Q 08 Rabbit
MediaProduction / E+ / Getty Images
Will you be able to name this fluffy member of the family Leporidae based on its paw?
Squirrel
Rabbit
Chipmunk
Prairie dog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Known for reproducing quickly, rabbits live in large groups. These groups are made up of males called bucks, females called does and baby rabbits referred to as kits. Many of these groups live in underground burrows.

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Q 09 Bulldog
Unsplash by Bryan Hanson
Can you pick out the correct identity of this paw belonging to one of the more muscular dog breeds?
Bulldog
Beagle
Chow chow
Pomeranian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bulldogs had a violent beginning where they were bred in the United Kingdom to fight bulls. Recognized as a sport, this use for the bulldog was ended in 1835 after taking place for over six centuries.

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Q 10 Lion
Pixabay by Chorengel
The king of the safari, which animal's paw is this?
Hyena
Cheetah
Swift fox
Lion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lions are unique from many other large cat breeds in that they live in large groups known as prides. Prides typically consist of about 30 lions with around three males who compete for dominance over the group.

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Q 11 Beaver
Paul A. Souders / Stone / Getty Images
Kayak a river in North America, and you could get a close glimpse of which animal's paw shown here?
Squirrel
Beaver
Porcupine
Chipmunk
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Beavers outrank most animals when it comes to changing their environment. By using their strong jaws, beavers gnaw through trees then use the wood to build dams where they will take up residence.

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Q 12 Red fox
electravk / Moment Open / Getty Images
What's the name of the creature that uses this paw to dig burrows in the forrest?
Hyena
Prairie dog
Red fox
Coyote
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The red fox has ears that stand upright and not just for appearance. These ears are extremely powerful, giving the fox a keen sense of sound that allows them to hear both prey and predators from hundreds of yards away.

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Q 13 Giant panda
Roger Tidman / Corbis Documentary / Getty Images
Select the animal that carries this large paw around.
Black bear
Polar bear
Sloth bear
Giant panda
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Found throughout the mountains of central China, giant pandas live among the bamboo forest of the country. These animals eat bamboo throughout most of the day, with 99 percent of their diet coming from this plant.

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Q 14 Hyena
Pixabay by IanZA
This paw helps which animal navigate the deadly ecosystem in Africa?
Cheetah
Wolf
Hyena
Gray fox
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are three species of hyena found in the world: the spotted hyena, brown hyena and striped hyena. Of these species, the most common as well as the largest of them is the spotted hyena.

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Q 15 Boxer
Pixabay by BBlanck
One of the largest dog breeds, do you recognize the owner of this paw?
Boxer
Greyhound
Golden retriever
Doberman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Boxers were first bred in Germany from an extinct group of dogs called bullenbeissers, which were used to hunt boars and bears. Eventually, smaller versions of these canines were bred as cattle dogs and eventually became the modern boxer.

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Q 16 Leopard
Pixabay by 3342
Can you identify the owner of this paw, which you might see hanging out on a tree limb as it waits for prey?
Cheetah
Leopard
Cougar
Jaguar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Typically, leopards are a light color with dark spots covering their fur, but occasionally, leopards have a much darker color, appearing to be completely black. These leopards still have spots, but they're hard to see because of their dark fur.

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Q 17 Wolf
Unsplash by Joshua Freake
Are you familiar with the animal that this paw is linked to?
Arctic fox
Prairie dog
Wolf
Doberman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wolves are capable of releasing a piercing howl that will send shivers down your spine. These howls are one of the many ways these animals use to communicate with one another, as they prefer to live in packs.

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Q 18 Mouse
Pixabay by Shutterbug75
How well do you know the rodent that this paw belongs to?
Mouse
Squirrel
Hamster
Chipmunk
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though controversial, mice are commonly used in research experiments. The reason they are used is because their biological makeup closely resembles that of a human, meaning most conditions that affect humans can be replicated in mice.

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Q 19 Cougar
Wiki Commons by Greg Hume
You wouldn't want this paw latching onto you during a jog because that means which animal is about to make you dinner?
Coyote
Cougar
Swift fox
Ocelot
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cougars have a vast range they inhabit that stretches all the way from Canada to the tip of South America. These large cats enjoy a range of habitats from forest to mountains and even deserts.

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Basset hound feet
Gandee Vasan/Stone/Getty Images
Will you be able to name the animal this paw is linked to?
Shih tzu
Great dane
Rottweiler
Basset hound
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Basset hounds have an extremely powerful nose, which makes them one of the best trackers in the canine family. In fact, their noses possess over 220 million smell receptors, allowing them to detect multiple odors while only focusing on one.

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Q 21 Swift fox
Wiki Commons by Cburnett
Which animal uses this paw to navigate the grasslands of North America?
Swift fox
Prairie dog
Caracal
Chipmunk
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Once occupying a vast range across the western United States, the swift fox has been in steady decline due to human encroachment. These animals now occupy half of their historic range.

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Q 22 Porcupine
Martin Harvey / DigitalVision / Getty Images
The paw of this animal looks a lot more innocent than the quills on its back. What's its name?
Sloth bear
Ocelot
Squirrel
Porcupine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Porcupines have a range that stretches across the entire world, as they are found on every continent excluding Antarctica. The only species of porcupine found in the United States is the North American porcupine.

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Q 23 Jaguar
Photo by Robert Vaughn / Moment / Getty Images
Perhaps the most deadly cat in South America, do you know the owner of this paw?
Caracal
Jaguar
Ocelot
Cheetah
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Where most cats prefer to avoid water, jaguars are well known for embracing it. They are skilled swimmers and even hunt for prey like fish and turtles in rivers and lakes across South America.

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Q 24 Australian Shepherd
Angela Auclair / Moment / Getty Images
Name the popular ranch dog that this paw belongs to.
Siberian husky
Bull terrier
Australian shepherd
Irish setter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though they carry the name, Australian shepherds are not actually from Australia. Most likely, these canines came from the Basque region of the Pyrenees Mountains, where they lived along the countryside.

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Q 25 Hamster
Kerrick / E+ / Getty Images
Is this a paw you're familiar with?
Squirrel
Chipmunk
Prairie dog
Hamster
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite their poor eyesight, hamsters have a strong sense of smell, which allows them to navigate the wild in search of food. Their diets are quite diverse, consisting of seeds, fruits, vegetables and even insects.

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Q 26 Polar bear
Wiki Commons by Srvban
A paw built for swimming in the Arctic Ocean, can you identify the animal it's connected to?
Black bear
Polar bear
Sloth bear
Spectacled bear
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though polar bears appear to be white, their fur is actually translucent, with the white appearance coming from the reflection of light. Underneath their fur coat, they have black skin.

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Q 27 Siamese cat
Moskow / Moment / Getty Images
This paw is owned by which breed of domesticated cat?
British shorthair
Toyger
Siamese cat
Sphynx cat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though there's little evidence of how they got over here, Siamese cats were brought to America at the end of the 19th century. It's believed that around this time, President Rutherford B. Hayes was given one as a gift.

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Q 28 Coyote
Pixabay by jl1262
One of the beasts from North American folklore, pick out the animal this paw is attached to?
Coyote
Gray fox
Arctic fox
Ocelot
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though they are territorial animals who prefer to live in solitude, coyotes will form packs to hunt for prey. When this happens, they take turns chasing the prey until it tires and the entire pack can descend upon it.

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Q 29 Squirrel
Unsplash by Valentin Petkov
Are you able to name the rodent that scurries around with this paw?
Chipmunk
Squirrel
Prairie dog
Guinea pig
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's pretty common to catch a squirrel cracking open an acorn with its front teeth. Something you might not know, however, is that those teeth never stop growing throughout the squirrel's life, which is why they must gnaw to keep them at the right length.

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Q 30 Ocelot
KeithSzafranski / E+ / Getty Images
Located throughout North and South America, how well do you know the owner of this paw?
Ocelot
Toyger
Nebelung
Caracal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ocelots get their name from the Aztecs, who referred to them as "tlalocelot." This word is roughly translated to field tiger. Though they carry this name, they are only distant relatives of tigers.

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Q 31 Dalmatian
Coneyl Jay / The Image Bank / Getty Images
Walt Disney put out a movie with 101 of the animals with this paw. Which animal is it?
Cocker spaniel
Afghan hound
Doberman
Dalmatian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No one knows the true origin of the dalmatian, but there are a few theories out there. One of those theories relates to the ancient Egyptians, who painted spotted dogs running beside chariots on their tombs.

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Q 32 Black bear
Gail Shotlander / Moment / Getty Images
Select the animal that this paw is connected to.
Sloth bear
Grizzly bear
Black bear
Spectacled bear
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Black bears spend the summer months eating grasses, fruit, small mammals and fish. They use these nutrients to build up fat to store for the winter when they retreat to their dens until spring.

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Q 33 Cheetah
Wiki Commons by marko8904
This paw makes which cat the fastest land mammal on earth?
Cheetah
Caracal
Lynx
Margay
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With the ability to reach extremely high speeds in only three seconds, cheetahs' bodies have evolved to match their speedy persona. For example, they have long legs and sharp claws that make gripping the ground much easier.

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Q 34 Artctic fox
Pixabay by pylon2552
Will you be able to pick out the animal this paw belongs to?
Hoary fox
Tibetan sand fox
Kit fox
Arctic fox
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Arctic foxes have a white coat that's for more than just good looks. These animals live in the snowy conditions of the arctic, so the coat helps them blend into their icy surroundings.

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Q 35 Sphynx cat
Patrick Matte / Moment / Getty Images
Can you name the owner of this bare paw?
Abyssinian cat
Sphynx cat
Bengal cat
Burmese cat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Even though there were reports of hairless cats throughout history, the modern Sphynx cat wasn't bred until 1960s in Canada. It's not the only hairless cat around, but it is the most common in North America.

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Q 36 Afghan hound
Photodisc / Photodisc / Getty Images
Do you know this canine well enough to pick it out from its paw?
Italian greyhound
Airedale terrier
Afghan hound
American pit bull terrier
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Afghan hounds are very fast and can reach speeds up to 40 mph. The dog's incredible speed helped hunters in Afghanistan who used these canines while searching for food throughout the mountains and deserts of the country.

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Q 37 Gray fox
Darrell Gulin / The Image Bank / Getty Images
One of only two species from the genus Urocyon, identify the owner of this paw?
Corsac fox
Kit fox
Fennec fox
Gray fox
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unlike most members of the dog family, the gray fox will climb trees with their hooked claws. They will do this in search of food like squirrels and lizards, to flee from predators or to sleep.

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Q 38 Caracal
Wiki Commons by smata2
Is this a paw you're familiar with?
Ocicat
Caracal
Margay
Serval
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An animal that enjoys the drier areas of Africa and the Middle East, the caracal prefers to hunt at night where it seeks out animals like rodents and monkeys. It's not unheard of for them to hunt larger mammals like impala, though.

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Q 39 Prairie dog
Pexels by Viv Mota
Name the grassland rodent that feeds on seeds with this paw.
Prairie dog
Chinchilla
Gerbil
Gopher
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Prairie dogs live together in underground colonies for protection from predators in the grasslands like coyotes and hawks. Here, they have a tight-knit family life where they use an intricate language to communicate.

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Q 40 Pomeranian
Andrew Fladeboe / Moment / Getty Images
Are you familiar with this paw that belongs to one of the smallest dog breeds?
Dachshund
Chow chow
Pomeranian
Yorkshire terrier
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though Pomeranians typically weigh no more than 10 pounds, these dogs are actually descendants of larger sled dogs. They used to weigh more but were bred down in size to be smaller and smaller.

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You Got:
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MamiGibbs / Moment / Getty Images