Vanuatu is a South Pacific island nation made up of roughly 80 islands located about one-quarter of the way from Hawaii to Australia. Its islands stretch across roughly 500 miles in the western Pacific Ocean, and it’s known for its beaches, volcanoes and dive sites. The capital and largest city is Port Vila on Éfaté island. Vanuatu’s population is approximately 307,000. The majority of the population is involved in subsistence farming and fishing. Tourism also makes up a solid portion of Vanuatu’s economy. Many curious visitors come to Vanuatu to explore its vibrant and diverse culture. One way to gain insight into Vanuatuan culture is by pondering riddles that have been passed down through oral traditions over countless generations. Below are 30 riddles from Vanuatu to test your wits along with the answers. Give them a try, and you may just learn something new about this island nation in the process!
Riddles
Riddle 1
I sit on the reef showing off my colors bright, luring fish that soon become a fisherman’s delight. What am I?
Riddle 2
I fly high in the sky looking for prey down below. I spot a creature then quickly nose dive. My talons out ready to seize, this technique helps keep me fed with ease. What am I?
Riddle 3
I wiggle and squiggle, slide and glide around the ocean floor. I have a hard shell that protects me as predators try to find an easy snack. What am I?
Riddle 4
I crawl slowly inching across the forest floor. My hard shell keeps me safe, it’s like carrying my home on my back! When I feel threatened I simply hide my head and limbs. What am I?
Riddle 5
We roam the reef using our beaks to nip and pinch. Our colors bright, yellow, red, black and blue. We travel in groups as it makes us less of a target for predators wanting to take a bite. What are we?
Riddle 6
I spend my time hopping amongst trees looking for leaves and fruit to nourish me. With powerful hind legs and a strong flat tail, I can leap far distances from tree to tree. What am I?
Riddle 7
I slither and slide in search of meals I can swallow whole. With heat sensing pits on my face I can find warm blooded creatures near. Squeeze tight with each breath my prey exhales, their fight over my power prevails. What am I?
Riddle 8
We slowly cruise the reef in search of algae to graze. Our shells protect us from predators trying to make us their next meal. We travel together in herds for safety in numbers. What are we?
Riddle 9
I soar high in the sky only flapping my wings about once a minute. I use hot air currents to gracefully ride and glide. I am always on the lookout for my next meal whether dead or alive. Farmers see me as a pest because I swipe baby chicks but others see me as sacred. What am I?
Riddle 10
We are tiny insects that live in trees and bushes near coastal areas. We have wings that reflect rainbow colors when the light hits them just right. We feast on plants sucking out their sweet sap. What are we?
Riddle 11
I crawl up trees tapping them with my beak searching for insects and larvae hidden underneath the bark that make a tasty treat. What am I?
Riddle 12
I soar high above the Pacific in search of fish, when I spot one I fold my wings back and dive straight down piercing the water and catching my prey with my sharp beak. I have excellent eyesight which helps me spot my next meal. What am I?
Riddle 13
I live high up in trees only coming down to the forest floor when I leap from branch to branch. I have a strong tail that helps me balance and move about. With excellent vision I can spot prey both day and night. My screeching call can be heard from miles away. What am I?
Riddle 14
We roam in large family groups called mobs. We use our long snouts to root around the forest floor in search of worms, fungi and insects living underneath. The older we get, the more deadly and sharp our tusks become making us females quite dangerous. What are we?
Riddle 15
I soar high in the sky riding air currents looking for reptiles and mammals scurrying below that make a tasty meal. With excellent eyesight I can spot prey over a mile away. Once spotted I tuck my wings in and dive down seizing my next victim in my sharp talons. I am known as the chef of the sky because I sometimes save food for later by storing it under trees. What am I?
Riddle 16
Slow and steady I crawl across the forest floor using my strong sense of smell to find mushrooms and fallen fruit to graze. I live inside my mobile home which offers shade, shelter and protection. When I feel threatened I simply hide my head and limbs inside my fortress. What am I?
Riddle 17
We roam in large family groups called herds. The older we get the more deadly and sharp our horns become. We spend most of our day grazing on grasses, ferns and leaves but if provoked we can defend using our sturdy built heads as weapons. What are we?
Riddle 18
I sit very still in the water with only my eyes peaking out waiting for my next meal to swim by. When fish approach near I open my large mouth and suck my prey in swallowing them whole. What am I?
Riddle 19
We crawl out of the ocean onto sandy beaches to lay our eggs. Once finished covering our nests we return to the sea, our eggs left to hatch on warm beach sand. What are we?
Riddle 20
I crawl slowly through the rainforest in constant search for eats. With eight strong jointed legs and simple eyes on the sides of my head I can detect the slightest of movements. I am feared by some but enjoyed by others as I am considered quite the delicacy. What am I?
Riddle 21
I can be found in trees tapping and pecking away with my sharp beak searching for insects or larvae hidden under bark that make a tasty treat. But occasionally I sample fruit and nectar too. If you spot me look for my colorful feathers, some say they look like a painters palette. What am I?
Riddle 22
We roam the coral reef in large groups called schools protecting each other from predators with safety in numbers. We use our thin bodies to gently glide through small openings in the coral we call home. At night we sleep nestled protected from predators. What are we?
Riddle 23
I creep slowly low to the rainforest floor concealed by darkness with excellent vision helping me hunt at night. I can see the slightest of movements even heat waves from living creatures. I dine on large insects, small mammals, lizards basically anything I can grab and constrict. What am I?
Riddle 24
High up in trees we forage for fruit, nuts, nectar basically anything that will satisfy our appetite. With excellent color vision we can spot rainbow colored foods. We have two opposable thumbs on each hand perfect for grasping food and branches. With loud squeals we alert others when we find something good to eat. What are we?
Riddle 25
I stand tall over the savannah with excellent vision that lets me spot predators from great distances. With excellent hearing I can detect predators from far away too. If I sense danger I signal others in our herd by snorting or stomping my feet, my large horns are used for defense against lions wanting to make a meal of us. What am I?
Riddle 26
I slowly slither across the forest floor flicking my forked tongue to smell prey nearby. I climb trees and swim in lakes in search of warm blooded creatures to make a nice sized meal I can swallow whole. Squeeze tight with each breath my prey exhales, their fight over my power prevails. What am I?
Riddle 27
At night we take flight using echolocation to find and catch moths, mosquitoes and other insects that make up our diet. During the day we roost hanging upside down in caves and hollow tree trunks. What are we?
Riddle 28
We stalk the savannah in large family groups called prides. With excellent eyesight we can spot prey over a mile a way. We work together to isolate prey from the protection of the herd then attack with great force and power. What are we?
Riddle 29
I sit very still floating in the water disguised as leaves with only my eyes peaking out waiting for my next meal to swim by. When fish approach near I open my large mouth and suck my prey in swallowing them whole. What am I?
Riddle 30
I am covered in spines and prickles from head to toe which offers great protection from predators wanting to make a meal of me. I move quite slowly and curl up into a ball when threatened. What am I?
Answers
Riddle 1
Answer: Coral
Riddle 2
Answer: Falcon
Riddle 3
Answer: Sea turtle
Riddle 4
Answer: Tortoise
Riddle 5
Answer: Parrotfish
Riddle 6
Answer: Tree kangaroo
Riddle 7
Answer: Python
Riddle 8
Answer: Sea cows
Riddle 9
Answer: Frigatebird
Riddle 10
Answer: Rainbow butterflies
Riddle 11
Answer: Woodpecker
Riddle 12
Answer: Osprey
Riddle 13
Answer: Owl
Riddle 14
Answer: Boars
Riddle 15
Answer: Brahminy kite
Riddle 16
Answer: Land snail
Riddle 17
Answer: Buffalos
Riddle 18
Answer: Frogfish
Riddle 19
Answer: Sea turtles
Riddle 20
Answer: Coconut crab
Riddle 21
Answer: Kingfisher
Riddle 22
Answer: Coral reef fish
Riddle 23
Answer: Boa
Riddle 24
Answer: Monkeys
Riddle 25
Answer: Greater kudu
Riddle 26
Answer: Python
Riddle 27
Answer: Bats
Riddle 28
Answer: Lions
Riddle 29
Answer: Frog fish
Riddle 30
Answer: Echidna
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed pondering over these 30 riddles from Vanuatu. Let me know if you would have answered any differently. Learning more about places through their oral traditions like riddles can give insight into how locals view the flora, fauna and landscapes around them. Vanuatu sure has an abundance of diversity across the archipelago for island inhabitants to be inspired by. This little quiz helps give you just a small peek into their awe-inspiring natural world. If you ever travel to Vanuatu see what other riddles you can collect first hand. Local Ni-Vanuatu would be happy to challenge you while revealing tidbits of wisdom passed down to them from past generations.
