Animals · Puzzle #16 · Thursday, October 15

Animals: the board

Eight items, eight categories, one place each. Here is the board with every figure and where it comes from, and the best way to place them. Play today's Animals.

The best board

The best board is hidden while some of these items are still in play: they're on a board again within 14 days.

The lineup, figure by figure

Whale shark
Plankton-eating shark with a wide, flat mouth
Photo: Abe Khao Lak, CC BY-SA 4.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
African wild dog
Pack hunter with a patchwork coat
Photo: AfricanConservation, CC BY-SA 4.0
African wild dog is Endangered or Critically Endangered, so its best fit on this board was Endangered, worth 10.0. Its weakest was Tiny, worth 0.0: a typical adult weighs 58 lb.
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 58 lb (0.0) Source: AnAge
Endangered
is Endangered or Critically Endangered (10.0) Source: IUCN Red List
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 92 languages (6.1) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 422,823 times in 2025 (4.2) Source: Wikimedia page views
Top speed
tops out at 41 mph (8.2) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 58 lb (5.9) Source: AnAge
Night owl
isn't mostly active at night (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Big family
has 8 young at a time (3.0) Source: AnAge
Periodical cicada
Insect whose males sing in deafening choruses
Photo: peterwchen, CC BY 4.0
On this board Periodical cicada scored best in Tiny (9.0): a typical adult weighs 0.91 g. Endangered was its weakest fit (0.0): it isn't Endangered.
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 0.91 g (9.0) Source: Wikipedia
Endangered
isn't Endangered (0.0) Source: IUCN Red List
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 18 languages (1.2) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 130,568 times in 2025 (1.3) Source: Wikimedia page views
Top speed
tops out at 5 mph (1.0) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 0.91 g (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Night owl
isn't mostly active at night (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Big family
has 500 young at a time (9.0) Source: Wikipedia
Chinese pangolin
Scaly anteater that rolls into a ball
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, CC BY 2.0
On this board Chinese pangolin scored best in Endangered (10.0): it is Endangered or Critically Endangered. Tiny was its weakest fit (0.0): a typical adult weighs 5.2 lb.
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 5.2 lb (0.0) Source: AnAge
Endangered
is Endangered or Critically Endangered (10.0) Source: IUCN Red List
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 51 languages (3.4) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 920,265 times in 2025 (9.2) Source: Wikimedia page views
Top speed
tops out at 3 mph (0.6) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 5.2 lb (2.4) Source: AnAge
Night owl
is mostly active at night (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Big family
has 1 young at a time (0.0) Source: AnAge
Blue-footed booby
Seabird that shows off its bright blue feet
Photo: Benjamint444, GFDL 1.2
On this board Blue-footed booby scored best in Top speed (10.0): it tops out at 60 mph. Tiny was its weakest fit (0.0): a typical adult weighs 3.4 lb.
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 3.4 lb (0.0) Source: AnAge
Endangered
isn't Endangered (0.0) Source: IUCN Red List
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 56 languages (3.7) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 221,500 times in 2025 (2.2) Source: Wikimedia page views
Top speed
tops out at 60 mph (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 3.4 lb (1.8) Source: AnAge
Night owl
isn't mostly active at night (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Big family
has 2 young at a time (1.0) Source: AnAge
Snowshoe hare
Hare with broad hind feet like snowshoes
Photo: Lepus_americanus_5459.JPG: Walter Siegmund (talk) derivative work: Wsiegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0
Snowshoe hare is mostly active at night, so its best fit on this board was Night owl, worth 10.0. Its weakest was Tiny, worth 0.0: a typical adult weighs 3.5 lb.
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 3.5 lb (0.0) Source: AnAge
Endangered
isn't Endangered (0.0) Source: IUCN Red List
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 55 languages (3.7) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 93,909 times in 2025 (0.9) Source: Wikimedia page views
Top speed
tops out at 27 mph (5.4) Source: animaldiversity.org
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 3.5 lb (1.8) Source: AnAge
Night owl
is mostly active at night (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Big family
has 3 young at a time (1.6) Source: AnAge
Antarctic krill
Shrimp-like swarmer that whales eat by the ton
Photo: Krill666.jpg: Uwe Kils I am willing to give the image in 1700 resolution to Wikipedia Uwe Kils, CC BY-SA 3.0
On this board Antarctic krill scored best in Big family (10.0): it has 10,000 young at a time. Endangered was its weakest fit (0.0): it isn't Endangered.
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 0.91 g (9.0) Source: Wikipedia
Endangered
isn't Endangered (0.0) Source: IUCN Red List
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 42 languages (2.8) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 72,096 times in 2025 (0.7) Source: Wikimedia page views
Top speed
tops out at 0.3 mph (0.1) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 0.91 g (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Night owl
isn't mostly active at night (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Big family
has 10,000 young at a time (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
House sparrow
Chirpy little bird of streets and cafés
Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0
House sparrow's best fit on this board was Known worldwide, worth 9.5: Wikipedia has an article on it in 142 languages. Its weakest was Endangered, worth 0.0, since it isn't Endangered.
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 0.9 oz (4.2) Source: AnAge
Endangered
isn't Endangered (0.0) Source: IUCN Red List
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 142 languages (9.5) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 489,311 times in 2025 (4.9) Source: Wikimedia page views
Top speed
tops out at 24 mph (4.8) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 0.9 oz (0.0) Source: AnAge
Night owl
isn't mostly active at night (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Big family
has 5 young at a time (2.3) Source: AnAge