Can You Identify These Origami Animals?

By: Monica Lee
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Identify These Origami Animals?
Image: Fernando Castellanos/Moment Open/Getty Images

About This Quiz

China originally developed origami when paper was developed. However, when paper was brought to Japan by monks in the sixth century, it is believed it was then that origami truly flourished. The art of paper folding wasn't initially something for the masses. Due to the scarcity and expense of paper, creating origami was restricted to ceremonial occasions. As paper became easier to obtain, origami was taught to children because the art requires 'following precise directions.' Adults also enjoyed this methodical leisure activity. And not just Japanese adults, but those from other Asian countries and Europe as well. In fact, Europe has a paper folding tradition that dates back to the 12th century or earlier, when the Moors brought this mathematically-based folding to Spain.  

In Japanese, the meaning of origami is derived from two words, oru (to fold) and kami (paper). Learning how to create different animals and objects was passed down orally from one generation to the next. Today, origami is so popular, we have numerous children and adult "how-to" books, plus a dozen or so national origami associations throughout the world. Origami USA sponsors a yearly convention in New York that is said to be the largest in the world! Now it's your turn to try your hand at identifying these animal shapes. Enjoy yourself! We promise there won't be a paper trail of your quiz results. 



Crane A classic origami animal. What is it?
Serpent
Crane
Cat
Dragon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In Japan, the crane is one of the mystical creatures and symbolizes good fortune and longevity because of its fabled lifespan of 1,000 years.

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Bat What is the origami animal in this picture?
Bat
Cat
Rat
Termite
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

What a cool bat, with it's wings spread out. The difficulty level is medium on this, but it's worth a little work to create it. Remember to use black or brown paper for more impact.

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Bird Hold onto this origami animal or it might take flight. What is it?
Bat
Bird
Cat
Butterfly
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The level of difficulty is easy. So make this one of the first origami animals you try to create. Then hang several of them by a window and it will make you smile.

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Boston Terrier Yes, this one is hard to identify, what is it?
Cat
Rabbit
Boston Terrier (Dog)
Deer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unless you know that a Boston Terrier has a boxy head, this might be hard to recognize. If you saw its full body and bobbed tail it might be easier to recognize.

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Rabbit 2 Sometimes a little magic marker helps. What origami animal is this?
Deer
Fox
Cat
Rabbit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The difficulty level of this bunny is medium. It's worth learning. If there is a toddler and an airplane flight or restaurant meal, it will keep the child preoccupied for a while.

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Butterfly What is this winged creature?
Bat
Bird
Butterfly
Wasp
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This butterfly has beautifully shaped wings and the difficulty level is easy to medium. Go ahead, try your hand at it!

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Butterfly 2 Feeling like Déjà vu? You're right. What is it?
Butterfly
Bird
Bat
Wasp
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is another butterfly, but you can see how your choice of paper can make the butterfly look more realistic.

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Cat This one is purrfectly suited for beginners. What is it?
Rabbit
Deer
Cat
Bat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The difficulty level for this one is easy. You'll need some artistry work to ensure it looks like a cat. It's fun to make the eyes crossed for a laugh.

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Cat 2 This one will impress. What is it?
Dog
Mouse
Raccoon
Cat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you want to impress people with your origami skill, a full body cat will do it. The difficulty level is medium on this one. Check out the tail ... very cool!

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Dog There are other origami animals besides cats, what is this one?
Dog
Raccoon
Skunk
Squirrel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This little doggie face needs some help with a few strokes of a pen. But it's easy to make it as cute as a pup.

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Dog 2 Yes, it's déjà vu again. What is this origami animal?
Cat
Dog
Racoon
Squirrel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yes, it's a dog again, but this time it's a full-bodied doggie. Hence, the difficulty level has raised to medium. You might still need a pen to fill in the face.

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Dragon So cool! What is it?
Snake
Dragon
Lizard
Dog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

So cool, but so hot. This origami dragon breathes fire. Be sure to use some red paper for more impact. Thinking of making one? The difficulty level is medium.

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Elephant Who could resist trying their hand at making this one. What is it?
Anteater
Elephant
Dragon
Snake
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

What a cute elephant. A few folds will get you there. With a difficulty level of easy, you should try your hand at it.

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Fish A couple of folds and you have an elegant one. What is this origami animal?
Fish
Deer
Turtle
Mouse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Triangles have never looked cooler than when creating an origami fish. The paper chosen helps give the fish a more tropical feel.

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Fish 2 This full-bodied creature is what kind of origami animal?
Serpent
Fish
Turtle
Mouse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This full-bodied origami fish is a little harder to make than the previous fish, but it looks great when you add an eye with a marker.

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Fox You need to be as clever as one of these to identify the origami animal. What is it?
Deer
Raccoon
Fox
Dog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although with so many folds, it looks complicated, it's not! Making this fox has a difficulty level of easy, so go for it!

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Fox 2 Can we outfox you with this one? What is it?
Deer
Raccoon
Fox
Rabbit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's just the head of the fox, but it's still impressive. The difficulty level is easy, so you can make it, put it in a lunch box with a note telling your child that he or she is as clever as a fox.

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Frog This will get a chuckle. What is it?
Skate fish
Frog
Tadpole
Dog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This lighthearted origami frog could be a bit better with green paper, however, it still works. It needs some handwork to make the eyes.

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Frog 2 This one jumps. What is it?
Squirrel
Frog
Tadpole
Skate Fish
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is a jumping frog made with green paper. Yes, the difficulty is a little harder (medium level) but worth it for a more realistic looking frog.

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Frog 3 If we are talking realistic, this one wins. What is it?
Tadpole
Caterpillar
Fish
Frog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Of all the origami frogs you've seen so far, this one looks the most realistic. And it's of medium difficulty, like the last one, so you may prefer making this one instead.

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Horse This one is more impressionistic. What is it?
Fox
Wolf
Bear
Horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This horse doesn't have the soft, sloping back or rounded legs, but you can tell it's a horse. If you're making it for people who are horse enthusiasts, they'll get it immediately.

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Horse 2 Here's a profile of an animal. What is it?
Cat
Fox
Elephant
Horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The profile of a horse is easy to identify, but it's better if you use a white marker for its nose. It doesn't take many folds to get this one looking good.

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Monkey Like bananas? This animal does. What origami animal is this?
Rhino
Elephant
Monkey
Horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's a bit boxy, but it's a monkey nevertheless. If you add in a face with a marker, it's even easier to identify.

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Mouse The squeaky wheel always get the oil, or in this case, the right answer. What is this origami animal?
Chipmunk
Mouse
Otter
Cat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's a cute little mouse. A little bit of black marker for the nose and the eye makes it complete. Try it! The difficulty level is easy.

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Panda Everyone loves this animal. What is it?
Dog
Panda
Black Bear
Polar Bear
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2016, the IUCN reclassified pandas from "endangered" to "vulnerable," but you can have your own origami panda any time you want with just a few folds of paper.

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Penguin How about this cute creature? What origami animal is it?
Polar Bear
Penguin
Otter
Skunk
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The best bet is to use black and white paper for this to look as recognizable as possible. Either way, they are fun origami's to walk across a counter top.

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Pikachu Children's eyes will light up when they see this one. What is it?
Rabbit
Cat
Pikachu
Dog
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Use yellow paper as well as red and black markers to make Pikachu come to life. It's easy ... at least that's the difficulty level.

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Pug (dog) Can you identify this household pet created by origami?
Cat
Pug (dog)
Gerbil
Ferret
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dog lovers hold a special place in their heart for certain breeds. If you know a pug lover, then make this origami pub for him or her!

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Puffy Rabbit One more way to create this origami animal. What is it?
Cat
Dog
Rabbit
Fox
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are many ways to make rabbits using origami. Like some of the other folding methods, this uses markers to help make the rabbit face identifiable.

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Bear This is an animal you might have as a stuffed animal. What is it?
Rabbit
Bear
Lion
Tiger
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This Teddy bear is ready to play. With a few folds and two half moons, you're ready to go. The difficulty level is easy.

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Turtle This will get applause. What origami animal is this?
Turtle
Lizard
Tadpole
Crab
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The shell really makes this origami turtle stand out, particularly because origami normally uses pointed folds to make the animal's body.

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Walrus Another cool origami animal. What is it?
Seal
Walrus
Penguin
Polar bear
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The walrus tusks are what makes this origami so interesting. Although the difficulty level is medium, it's worth it to impress others with your origami technique.

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Whale You'll find this one in the sea. What kind of origami animal is this?
Fish
Whale
Sting Ray
Polar bear
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Blue Whale is the largest animal known to exist. However, you can have one that fits in the palm of your hands if you use origami.

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Flapping Bird Some origami animals can be made to have movement. What is this one?
Hopping Frog
Flapping Bird
Grasshopper
Mouse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's hard enough to make a stationary origami, but to make one with movement is even more of a challenge. See if you can master the Flapping Bird.

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Pelican What kind of animal is depicted in this origami?
Pelican
Swan
Duck
Goose
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In real life, the pelican's beak can hold up to three gallons of fish and water. This origami doesn't convey the large size of the beak, but just like in origami, the real pelican beak has lots of folds in it!

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Owl You need to be wise to answer this one correctly. What is it?
Cat
Fox
Owl
Bat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This owl is created perfectly from the folds of paper. To add more character, use a marker to make big eyes.

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Ladybug This is an insect. But which origami insect is it?
Beetle
Cricket
Grasshopper
Ladybug
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is very unique origami design when you look at it from all directions. Be sure to use red paper and hand-make the black dots on the ladybug to make it look great.

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Dragon head Watch out for this one. What origami animal is it?
Dragon Head
Snapping Turtle Head
Crab
Snail
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This dragon head has an opening in its mouth, so beware! You can make it breathe out confetti if you wish, for added fun.

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Dog 3 This origami obeys commands. Which one is it?
Cat
Dog
Rabbit
Ferret
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This origami dog is following the command to "sit." The full body origami makes it easier to recognize man's best friend.

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Puffy Rabbit Final question: What origami animal is this?
Fish
Rabbit
Wolf
Horse
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are so many ways to make this animal! But this one is extra special. These puffy rabbits are even more fun than regular ones.

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