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Disjunct Species

Some species, for various reasons, live very far from any living relatives. For each hint, list the species being described.
Quiz by Kearsarge
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Last updated: January 9, 2024
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First submittedNovember 23, 2023
Times taken168
Average score26.3%
Rating4.83
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Hint
Answer
An extremely rare species of tree found only on remote mountain slopes in China. Its closest relatives are two gigantic conifers found only on the west coast of the US
Dawn Redwood
A family of closely related marsupials found only in the Americas, far from Australia
Opossums
A single marsupial species in South America which is closer related to Australian marsupials than the above family
Monito del Monte
Seal species found in the Hawaiian Islands, its closest living relative is in the Mediterranean
Hawaiian Monk Seal
A black and white species of rare ungulate native to Southeast Asia, Its closest relatives can be found in South and Central America
Malaysian Tapir
A recently extinct species of Sirenian (Manatee) formerly found only in the subpolar waters of the Bering Strait. All other species are tropical
Steller's Sea Cow
A species of big cat in the same genus as Old World lions and tigers, native to South and Central America
Jaguar
Family of trees native to Australia/New Zealand, and the southern tip of South America
Southern Beech
Two gigantic seal species native to the North Pacific, and Antarctic waters
Elephant Seals
Giant North American salamander species closest related to the Chinese and Japanese Giant Salamanders
Hellbender
Hint
Answer
Species of crocodillian native to China which is closest related to species native to southeast US
Chinese Alligator
A species of "big cat" native to Africa/the Middle East, and closest related to large/medium sized cats of the Americas
Cheetah
Species of flowering water plant native to North America, with its sole close relative native to South Asia/widely cultivated there.
Yellow Lotus
Group of herbal plants primarily native to East Asia, but two species are native to the eastern US
Ginseng
Three closely related species of Great Ape native to southeast Asia. Ignoring humans, their closest relatives are only found in Africa
Orangutan
One species of this large filter-feeding fish lived in rivers in China before becoming extinct, the other species lives in the Mississippi River Basin
Paddlefish
Species of seal native to large lake in Siberia, over a thousand miles from the ocean and other seals
Baikal Seal
Every species of cactus, except one, is native to the New World. This species can be found in Africa and South Asia
Mistletoe Cactus
Waterbird native to South America whose two closest relatives are kagu birds native to the Pacific island of New Caledonia
Sunbittern
4 Comments
+3
Level 68
Nov 23, 2023
To explain some patterns here: Patterns where animals/plants are found in Australia, and South America, such as marsupials and southern beech trees, can be explained by South America being connected to Australia via Antarctica until well into the Paleogene. This allowed animals/plants to cross back and forth, and as a result there are still some groups shared between them.

Patterns where East Asia and North America share plants/animals relates mostly to a combination of similar climates and of course the series of land bridges that existed between the two both in the last ice age, and much earlier at different intervals.

+5
Level 70
Jul 4, 2024
15/19, fun concept. Malayan tapir should be accepted though, it’s used more commonly than Malaysian.
+3
Level 68
Jul 4, 2024
Failed because of the same reason
+1
Level 69
Jul 4, 2024
What an awesome concept, great clues and really educational! I only got 5/19 but really enjoyed the quiz and had learnt a lot doing it!