Animals · Puzzle #36 · Wednesday, November 4

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.
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.
Red king crab
Spiky crab of TV's Deadliest Catch
Photo: Dr. Roger Mann, VIMS, Public domain
Red king crab's best fit on this board was Long wait, worth 10.0: its young take 365 days to be born or hatch. Its weakest was Takes flight, worth 0.0, since it can't fly.
Takes flight
can't fly (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 8.8 lb (3.1) Source: Wikipedia
Long wait
its young take 365 days to be born or hatch (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 87,204 times in 2025 (0.9) Source: Wikimedia page views
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 36 languages (2.4) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Stripes or spots
isn't striped or spotted (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Long life
the oldest on record lived 25 years (3.6) Source: Wikipedia
Big family
has 300,000 young at a time (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Indian flying fox
Fruit-eating bat with a fox-like face
Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0
On this board Indian flying fox scored best in Takes flight (10.0): it flies under its own power. Stripes or spots was its weakest fit (0.0): it isn't striped or spotted.
Takes flight
flies under its own power (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 2.6 lb (1.4) Source: AnAge
Long wait
its young take 145 days to be born or hatch (5.8) Source: AnAge
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 70,463 times in 2025 (0.7) Source: Wikimedia page views
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 38 languages (2.5) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Stripes or spots
isn't striped or spotted (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Long life
the oldest on record lived 44 years (6.3) Source: AnAge
Big family
has 1 young at a time (0.0) Source: AnAge
Chimpanzee
Our closest cousin, a user of tools
Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0
Chimpanzee's best fit on this board was Long life, worth 9.7: the oldest on record lived 68 years. Its weakest was Takes flight, worth 0.0, since it can't fly.
Takes flight
can't fly (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 99 lb (6.6) Source: AnAge
Long wait
its young take 229 days to be born or hatch (9.2) Source: AnAge
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 645,975 times in 2025 (6.5) Source: Wikimedia page views
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 99 languages (6.6) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Stripes or spots
isn't striped or spotted (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Long life
the oldest on record lived 68 years (9.7) Source: AnAge
Big family
has 1 young at a time (0.0) Source: AnAge
Rainbow trout
Angler's favorite, with a pink side band
Photo: Engbretson Eric, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Rainbow trout is known for its stripes or spots, so its best fit on this board was Stripes or spots, worth 10.0. Its weakest was Takes flight, worth 0.0, since it can't fly.
Takes flight
can't fly (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 27 lb (4.8) Source: AnAge
Long wait
its young take 18 days to be born or hatch (0.7) Source: AnAge
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 213,352 times in 2025 (2.1) Source: Wikimedia page views
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 73 languages (4.9) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Stripes or spots
is known for its stripes or spots (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Long life
the oldest on record lived 11 years (1.6) Source: AnAge
Big family
has 3,500 young at a time (10.0) Source: AnAge
Spotted hyena
Known for its whooping "laugh"
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0
Spotted hyena is known for its stripes or spots, so its best fit on this board was Stripes or spots, worth 10.0. Its weakest was Takes flight, worth 0.0, since it can't fly.
Takes flight
can't fly (0.0) Source: Wikipedia
Heavyweight
a typical adult weighs 139 lb (7.1) Source: AnAge
Long wait
its young take 110 days to be born or hatch (4.4) Source: AnAge
Most looked-up
its Wikipedia article was read 315,734 times in 2025 (3.2) Source: Wikimedia page views
Known worldwide
Wikipedia has an article on it in 77 languages (5.1) Source: Wikipedia language editions (Wikidata)
Stripes or spots
is known for its stripes or spots (10.0) Source: Wikipedia
Long life
the oldest on record lived 41 years (5.9) Source: AnAge
Big family
has 2 young at a time (1.0) Source: AnAge
Giant panda
Bear that eats bamboo nearly all day
Photo: J. Patrick Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0
Its figures are hidden while it's still in play: it's on a board again within 14 days.