Animals · Puzzle #17 · Friday, October 16

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

Bactrian camel
Two-humped camel of the steppes
Photo: Christian Ursilva from Copenhagen, Denmark, CC BY-SA 4.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Brown pelican
Scoops up fish in its stretchy throat pouch
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Reindeer
Antlered deer, also called caribou
Photo: Are G Nilsen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Basking shark
Filter-feeds with its mouth gaping open
Photo: Greg Skomal / NOAA Fisheries Service, Public domain
Basking shark's best fit on this board was Heavyweight, worth 10.0: a typical adult weighs 4,850 lb. Its weakest was Takes flight, worth 0.0, since it can't fly.
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 412,404 times in 2025 (4.1) Source: Wikimedia page views
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 4,850 lb (10.0) Source: AnAge
Takes flight
can't fly (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 62 languages (4.1) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Wild in South America
lives in the sea (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Late bloomer
females can first breed at 12 years old (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Long life
the oldest on record lived 32 years (4.6) Source: AnAge
Top speed
tops out at 2 mph (0.4) Source: Wikipedia
American alligator
Broad-snouted reptile of the swamps
Photo: User:Postdlf, CC BY-SA 3.0
On this board American alligator scored best in Late bloomer (10.0): females can first breed at 12 years old. Takes flight was its weakest fit (0.0): it can't fly.
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 380,698 times in 2025 (3.8) Source: Wikimedia page views
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 331 lb (8.4) Source: AnAge
Takes flight
can't fly (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 62 languages (4.1) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Wild in South America
isn't native to South America (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Late bloomer
females can first breed at 12 years old (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Long life
the oldest on record lived 77 years (10.0) Source: AnAge
Top speed
tops out at 9 mph (1.8) Source: ask.ifas.ufl.edu
Common swift
Scythe-shaped bird that screams over rooftops
Photo: Alexis Lours, CC BY 4.0
Common swift flies under its own power, so its best fit on this board was Takes flight, worth 10.0. Its weakest was Heavyweight, worth 0.0: a typical adult weighs 1.3 oz.
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 141,469 times in 2025 (1.4) Source: Wikimedia page views
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 1.3 oz (0.0) Source: AnAge
Takes flight
flies under its own power (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 92 languages (6.1) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Wild in South America
isn't native to South America (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Late bloomer
females can first breed at 2 years old (2.0) Source: Wikipedia
Long life
the oldest on record lived 21 years (3.0) Source: AnAge
Top speed
tops out at 69 mph (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Greenland shark
Shark eaten fermented as Iceland's hákarl
Photo: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, Public domain
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Great blue heron
Stalks the shallows, then spears fish
Photo: DallasPenner, CC BY-SA 4.0
On this board Great blue heron scored best in Takes flight (10.0): it flies under its own power. Wild in South America was its weakest fit (0.0): it isn't native to South America.
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 249,483 times in 2025 (2.5) Source: Wikimedia page views
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 4.1 lb (2.0) Source: AnAge
Takes flight
flies under its own power (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 48 languages (3.2) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Wild in South America
isn't native to South America (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Late bloomer
females can first breed at 1.8 years old (1.8) Source: Wikipedia
Long life
the oldest on record lived 25 years (3.5) Source: AnAge
Top speed
tops out at 35 mph (7.0) Source: wildlifedepartment.com