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Largest Land Animals of the Americas

Name every type of land animal native to the Americas where typical adults can reach a weight of over 100 lbs (about 45 kilograms).
Includes domestic animals that were native to the Americas
Not including introduced species. Also doesn't include humans.
One of the Ursidae is debatably an aquatic animal
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: January 11, 2020
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First submittedOctober 11, 2016
Times taken18,686
Average score50.0%
Rating4.36
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Ursidae
Species
American Black Bear
Species
Brown Bear
Species
Polar Bear
Species
Spectacled Bear
 
 
Felidae
Species
Cougar
Species
Jaguar
 
 
Canidae
Species
Gray Wolf
 
 
Antilocapridae
Species
Pronghorn
Bovidae
Species
American Bison
Species
Muskox
Species
Mountain Goat
Genus
Sheep (Bighorn and Dall)
 
 
Cervidae
Generic Term
Deer
Species
Caribou
Species
Elk
Species
Moose
 
 
Caviidae
Species
Capybara
_____idae
Genus
Tapir
 
 
Myrmecophagidae
Species
Giant Anteater
 
 
Camelidae
Species
Alpaca
Species
Guanaco
Species
Llama
Species
Vicuña
 
 
Testudinidae
Species
Galápagos Tortoise
88 Comments
+4
Level ∞
Oct 11, 2016
I spent way too long on this quiz. I'm reasonably satisfied with its accuracy but there are probably some errors. Please let me know if there are any animals I forgot!
+2
Level 76
Oct 11, 2016
How about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_anaconda -- wikipedia says it can typically reach over 100 pounds. It is native and.. I don't think it's aquatic?
+3
Level ∞
Oct 11, 2016
I chose not to include that one since Wikipedia says it's primarily aquatic. Terrifying creature!
+2
Level 76
Oct 11, 2016
That, but a very interesting one. Shame it doesn't spend more time on land.
+2
Level 78
Oct 12, 2016
what about the domesticated cow?
+2
Level ∞
Oct 12, 2016
Introduced by Europeans
+2
Level 86
Feb 13, 2017
The Anaconda mostly live in marshy zones, it's a borderline case. On the other hand, I think that boa constrictors can reach the 100lb limit, and they are not aquatic.
+2
Level 72
Sep 18, 2019
I tried anaconda
+2
Level 59
Feb 13, 2017
just curious, what player level are you quizmaster?
+2
Level 40
Feb 20, 2017
Looking at their profile, 62 in English if I'm reading it right.
+4
Level 75
Sep 17, 2019
Quizmaster is infinity :)
+2
Level 44
Feb 13, 2017
I enjoyed the quiz quite a lot, but I was wondering if you could add white-tailed deer as a type-in. To my knowledge the white-tailed deer is what is commonly known as just "deer." Since you accept the generic term could you also please accept the real name? If I am wrong about this somebody please correct me though, as I hate spreading misinformation! And again, as I said before, I really enjoyed the quiz!
+3
Level 73
Sep 16, 2019
I'm not sure why the quizmaster asked for a generic term for the whole cervidae category. But I definitely think 'white-tailed deer' should be included as its own answer; they get heavy enough.
+2
Level 83
Sep 16, 2019
Apparently "deer" was meant as a replacement for all species or subspecies called "______ deer"
+2
Level 83
Apr 26, 2018
Fun quiz though.
+2
Level 67
Sep 18, 2019
The California Condor is one of the largest birds in the world, it would easily make this list.
+7
Level 78
Sep 18, 2019
Except they only weigh up to about 26 lbs (12 kilos). Birds gotta be pretty light to fly.
+1
Level 39
Feb 7, 2024
Alligators are usually on land
+1
Level 74
Apr 24, 2024
Great quiz. Would large flightless birds like the South American Rhea not count as a land animal too though?
+4
Level 77
Oct 11, 2016
nice! would be nice to be told in the notes the value in kg. would be nice to do a version with pictures, too
+2
Level 69
Oct 11, 2016
No wild horses?
+3
Level 85
Oct 12, 2016
The wild horses currently in the Americas were introduced during the era of European colonization. Horses were once native, although they are believed to have died out during the Pleistocene - about 10 to 15 thousand years ago.
+2
Level 95
Oct 11, 2016
The pronghorn isn't actually a Cervid (deer) its a Giraffoid. Other than that, excellent quiz.

I had to look it up, turns out that the Kodiak bear, and wood bison/plains bison are subspecies, so I can't fault you for not including them.

+2
Level ∞
Oct 12, 2016
Wow! I must have just assumed. This is now fixed. I changed the family to Antilocapridae. Crazy that giraffes are their closest living relatives.
+2
Level 74
Feb 13, 2017
That surprised me too, but now that I think about it there is a bit of "family resemblance" in their faces.
+5
Level 72
Sep 18, 2019
Giraffes just stick their neck out
+2
Level 72
Oct 15, 2016
Huh, you learn something new every day. I thought elk was just what you call moose in Europe.
+5
Level 57
Feb 13, 2017
Elk is what moose is called in Europe. Americans use that word for a wapiti.
+2
Level 86
Feb 13, 2017
There is an irritating confusion between the two, which leads to wrong translations in French, for example (it's one of my pet peeves, I hate it when a "cerf" is called "élan" :p).
+1
Level 58
Nov 28, 2019
And I didn't realise caribou and elk were different. Learned a new thing. Caribou being reindeer in Europe (well north Scandinavia)
+1
Level 76
Oct 15, 2016
What about wild boar? They can get pretty big.
+2
Level 76
Oct 19, 2016
Wild boar is not native to the Americas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_boar#Introduction_to_North_America
+1
Level 70
Feb 13, 2017
The Horse and the Camel were originally from North America and spread throughout the northern hemisphere via the land bridge to Asia before dying out. The camel varieties spread through South America (LLama & Co.)
+1
Level 63
Feb 13, 2017
American Alligators?
+1
Level 81
Feb 13, 2017
Was wondering about them, too. Maybe they count as primarily aquatic same as the anaconda? I would have included both. Or maybe they were brought over from Africa or something like this. I'm not familiar with the history of the species.
+1
Level 34
Feb 13, 2017
I tried it about 6 different ways. Must be considered aquatic and not a land animal. No gripe on that one.
+1
Level 86
Feb 13, 2017
Alligators and Caimans clearly are american... and aquatic.
+1
Level 81
Sep 20, 2019
Are they not amphibious? They spend a lot of time on land.
+1
Level 43
Feb 13, 2017
Elk and moose are either the same species or the elk is not american.

Very nice quiz by the way, would be intersting the european, african asian and oceanian version, maybe more difficult to define.

+1
Level 86
Feb 13, 2017
Moose = Alces alces ; Elk = cervus canadensis.
+1
Level 74
Sep 18, 2019
Moose are FAR larger than elk. and both live in the americas
+1
Level 54
Feb 13, 2017
I confess, tried Bambi...
+1
Level 83
Sep 16, 2019
Bambi is not large :)
+1
Level 85
Sep 18, 2019
Sure he is. Don't you remember the end of the film? He grows up!
+1
Level 7
Feb 13, 2017
Jaguars aren't in the Americas.
+1
Level 86
Feb 13, 2017
Do you mistake them for leopards?
+3
Level 59
Feb 21, 2017
Jaguars most definitely ARE in the Americas. Leopards/panthers are not (except in zoos of course).
+1
Level 74
Sep 18, 2019
Here's a video of one hunting a caiman which I believe only live in the americas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrY4EUirqgE
+1
Level 58
Nov 28, 2019
Incas and aztecs held jaguars in high respect so they must have been there before Columbus.
+1
Level 54
Feb 13, 2017
What about Bigfoot?
+1
Level 83
Feb 13, 2017
"doesn't include humans" :)
+1
Level 91
Feb 13, 2017
Technically, Bigfoot is classified as a "humanoid," which doesn't necessarily mean he IS human.
+1
Level 72
Sep 18, 2019
He isnt, otherwise what would be the big deal, humans are all over the place.
+1
Level 72
Feb 14, 2017
I've been naughty and didn't read the bullet points, so I tried a billion synonyms for cattle.
+3
Level 57
Mar 13, 2017
Giant Anteater should definitely be here...according to NatGeo and most other sources it can reach above 100 even up to 140 lb... http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/g/giant-anteater/
+2
Level ∞
Sep 15, 2019
Added!
+14
Level 85
May 17, 2017
Surprised not to see my mother-in-law in this one.
+3
Level 76
Sep 18, 2019
I almost missed the joke: I thought the MIL was being pinged for weight before I realised Don didn't qualify her as human either. Which means he has an exotic wife.
+1
Level 46
Apr 28, 2018
100% with 1:54 left! I'm really into animals, so this was alot of fun for me. I was surprised giant anteater wasn't on this though.
+1
Level 80
Sep 15, 2019
Never seen or heard of a vicuna before, had to look it up. Looks a bit cute, I guess.
+2
Level 73
Sep 16, 2019
Please add the kilogram parameters (100lbs = 45kg). That will save non-US quiz takers from having to look up how much 100 lbs is before they begin your quiz, like I did. Great quiz otherwise, cheers.
+1
Level 83
Sep 16, 2019
I second that
+1
Level ∞
Sep 16, 2019
Ok
+1
Level 62
Sep 18, 2019
Do Javelinas get big enough to be included?
+1
Level 58
Sep 18, 2019
Adult Javelinas or Peccary's are typically 40-50 lbs. I've never seen one much bigger than that.
+2
Level 62
Sep 18, 2019
Thanks, seem a lot bigger face to face... :)
+1
Level 89
Sep 18, 2019
I tried guessing that just in case, but according to wikipedia "a full-grown adult usually weighs about 20 to 40 kg (44 to 88 lb)", so they would not make the cut.
+2
Level 72
Sep 18, 2019
Which of the bears is supposed to be aquatic?
+1
Level 85
Sep 18, 2019
Polar bear. It's even in the name, Ursus maritimus.
+1
Level 60
Sep 30, 2019
If you ever go to a zoo you will see that polar bears are always swimming.
+1
Level 91
Sep 18, 2019
According to Wikipedia, giant armadillos have been found in the wild up to 120 pounds.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_armadillo

I imagine my dog wouldn't be chasing those, unlike their Texas cousins.

+1
Level 89
Sep 18, 2019
Very cool, I didn't realize there were giant armadillos.
+1
Level ∞
Sep 18, 2019
Me neither. These will be added next time I update the quiz.
+1
Level 58
Sep 18, 2019
If this "includes domestic animals that were native to the Americas," shouldn't the horse be included? I know they became extinct in the Americas at the end of the Pleistocene, but the species lived on in Europe and Asia only to be re-introduced.
+2
Level 74
Sep 18, 2019
How about the jackalope? According to Wikipedia, "The adults grow to about 3 feet (1 m) tall, weigh up to 150 pounds (68 kg), and can run at sustained speeds approaching 60 miles per hour (97 km/h)."
+1
Level 43
Sep 18, 2019
White tailed deer

Mule Deer

+1
Level 76
Sep 18, 2019
Maybe also complete the word Tapiridae in the family header when Tapir is guessed?
+1
Level 81
Sep 18, 2019
I'll never forget capybara after Speak on The Tick.
+1
Level 65
Sep 19, 2019
No rhea?
+1
Level 70
Sep 19, 2019
What about Huemul?
+1
Level 58
Sep 21, 2019
What about horses or cows?
+1
Level 58
Nov 28, 2019
No time frame so Giant Sloths?
+1
Level 67
Jul 24, 2020
Spending 8 years in Central and South America made those "weirdos" like capybara, tapir, vicuna, easy! I once had a tapir step on my foot. Ouch! (Don't ask!) The fur of the delicate vicuna is incredibly soft and very expensive. When I was in Peru, it was illegal to sell vicuna skins. On the sly, a shopkeeper offered me some, but I turned him down.
+1
Level 52
Dec 29, 2020
Feel like it'd be easier if the actual animal groups were mentioned and not the genuses.
+1
Level 52
Dec 29, 2020
Like instead of Ursidae, just say "bears."
+1
Level 52
Dec 29, 2020
Also, once you know what each genus means, like Felidae = cats, it's a BREEZE!
+1
Level 66
Mar 5, 2024
What about the "Greater rhea (Rhea americana)"?
+1
Level 70
Apr 30, 2024
Lynxes are much smaller than I thought. Seems like the Americas need to come up with a new cat to bridge the gap!