Animals · Puzzle #26 · Sunday, October 25

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

Wolverine
Stocky weasel with a fierce reputation
Photo: Esquilo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Goliath birdeater
Tarantula that flicks itchy hairs at attackers
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
Goliath birdeater is venomous, so its best fit on this board was Venomous, worth 10.0. Its weakest was Endangered, worth 0.0, since it isn't Endangered.
Long wait
its young take 49 days to be born or hatch (2.0) Source: Wikipedia
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 479,882 times in 2025 (4.8) Source: Wikimedia page views
Venomous
is venomous (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Endangered
isn't Endangered (0.0) Source: IUCN Red List
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 6 oz (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Long life
the oldest on record lived 25 years (3.6) Source: Wikipedia
Big family
has 100 young at a time (6.6) Source: Wikipedia
Top speed
tops out at 1 mph (0.2) Source: Wikipedia
Little brown bat
Bat that eats its weight in insects
Photo: SMBishop, CC BY-SA 3.0
On this board Little brown bat scored best in Endangered (10.0): it is Endangered or Critically Endangered. Venomous was its weakest fit (0.0): it isn't venomous.
Long wait
its young take 55 days to be born or hatch (2.2) Source: AnAge
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 64,632 times in 2025 (0.6) Source: Wikimedia page views
Venomous
isn't venomous (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Endangered
is Endangered or Critically Endangered (10.0) Source: IUCN Red List
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 10 g (0.0) Source: AnAge
Long life
the oldest on record lived 34 years (4.9) Source: AnAge
Big family
has 1 young at a time (0.0) Source: AnAge
Top speed
tops out at 22 mph (4.4) Source: animaldiversity.org
Giant Pacific octopus
Octopus that can open jars and escape tanks
Photo: NOAA/R. N. Lea [1], Public domain
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Komodo dragon
Monitor lizard that hunts deer and water buffalo
Photo: James Jolokia (james1203), CC BY 4.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Bornean orangutan
Red-haired great ape that lives in the trees
Photo: Nanosanchez, CC BY-SA 4.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.
Pronghorn
Antelope-like grazer with forked horns
Photo: www.naturespicsonline.com, CC BY-SA 3.0
On this board Pronghorn scored best in Top speed (10.0): it tops out at 55 mph. Venomous was its weakest fit (0.0): it isn't venomous.
Long wait
its young take 235 days to be born or hatch (9.4) Source: AnAge
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 308,424 times in 2025 (3.1) Source: Wikimedia page views
Venomous
isn't venomous (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Endangered
isn't Endangered (0.0) Source: IUCN Red List
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 102 lb (6.7) Source: AnAge
Long life
the oldest on record lived 17 years (2.4) Source: AnAge
Big family
has 2 young at a time (1.0) Source: AnAge
Top speed
tops out at 55 mph (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
American bison
Shaggy grazer that once roamed the plains
Photo: Jack Dykinga, Public domain
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.