Animals · Puzzle #21 · Tuesday, October 20

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

Giant manta ray
Ray with horn-like fins that funnel in food
Photo: jon hanson from london, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Praying mantis
Folds its front legs as if in prayer
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0
Praying mantis is native to Europe, so its best fit on this board was Wild in Europe, worth 10.0. Its weakest was Down Under, worth 0.0, since it isn't native Down Under.
Top speed
tops out at 1 mph (0.2) Source: Wikipedia
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 3.2 g (7.2) Source: Wikipedia
Down Under
isn't native Down Under (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 521,439 times in 2025 (5.2) Source: Wikimedia page views
Long life
the oldest on record lived 1 years (0.1) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 3.2 g (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Wild in Europe
is native to Europe (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 65 languages (4.3) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Frilled lizard
Flares a neck frill and runs on two legs
Photo: Matt from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0
Frilled lizard is native to Australia, New Zealand or New Guinea, so its best fit on this board was Down Under, worth 10.0. Its weakest was Tiny, worth 0.0: a typical adult weighs 16 oz.
Top speed
tops out at 30 mph (6.0) Source: sydneyzoo.com
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 16 oz (0.0) Source: AnAge
Down Under
is native to Australia, New Zealand or New Guinea (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 134,688 times in 2025 (1.3) Source: Wikimedia page views
Long life
the oldest on record lived 9.9 years (1.4) Source: AnAge
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 16 oz (0.0) Source: AnAge
Wild in Europe
isn't native to Europe (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 49 languages (3.3) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Wild turkey
Gobbling bird of Thanksgiving
Photo: Paul Danese, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wild turkey tops out at 55 mph, so its best fit on this board was Top speed, worth 10.0. Its weakest was Tiny, worth 0.0: a typical adult weighs 13 lb.
Top speed
tops out at 55 mph (10.0) Source: pbs.org
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 13 lb (0.0) Source: AnAge
Down Under
isn't native Down Under (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 265,691 times in 2025 (2.7) Source: Wikimedia page views
Long life
the oldest on record lived 13 years (1.9) Source: AnAge
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 13 lb (3.7) Source: AnAge
Wild in Europe
isn't native to Europe (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 73 languages (4.9) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
American cockroach
Scuttling pest that survives almost anything
Photo: Gary Alpert, CC BY 2.5
On this board American cockroach scored best in Tiny (9.0): a typical adult weighs 0.91 g. Down Under was its weakest fit (0.0): it is domesticated, with no wild range.
Top speed
tops out at 3.4 mph (0.7) Source: Wikipedia
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 0.91 g (9.0) Source: Wikipedia
Down Under
is domesticated, with no wild range (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 541,432 times in 2025 (5.4) Source: Wikimedia page views
Long life
the oldest on record lived 1.5 years (0.2) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 0.91 g (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Wild in Europe
is domesticated, with no wild range (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 35 languages (2.3) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Moose
Deer with broad, shovel-shaped antlers
Photo: Paxson Woelber, CC BY-SA 4.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Galápagos tortoise
Tortoise of the islands that inspired Darwin
Photo: Mfield, Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com, CC BY-SA 3.0
Galápagos tortoise's best fit on this board was Long life, worth 10.0: the oldest on record lived 177 years. Its weakest was Top speed, worth 0.0, since it tops out at 0.2 mph.
Top speed
tops out at 0.2 mph (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 386 lb (0.0) Source: animaldiversity.org
Down Under
isn't native Down Under (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 283,350 times in 2025 (2.8) Source: Wikimedia page views
Long life
the oldest on record lived 177 years (10.0) Source: AnAge
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 386 lb (8.6) Source: animaldiversity.org
Wild in Europe
isn't native to Europe (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 35 languages (2.3) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Chicken
Farm bird whose rooster crows at dawn
Photo: Andrei Niemimäki from Turku, Finland, CC BY-SA 2.0
On this board Chicken scored best in Known worldwide (10.0): Wikipedia has an article on it in 245 languages. Tiny was its weakest fit (0.0): a typical adult weighs 5.5 lb.
Top speed
tops out at 9 mph (1.8) Source: Wikipedia
Tiny
a typical adult weighs 5.5 lb (0.0) Source: en.wikipedia.org
Down Under
is domesticated, with no wild range (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 956,811 times in 2025 (9.6) Source: Wikimedia page views
Long life
the oldest on record lived 30 years (4.3) Source: AnAge
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 5.5 lb (2.5) Source: en.wikipedia.org
Wild in Europe
is domesticated, with no wild range (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 245 languages (10.0) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)