Secret Spot · Puzzle #4 · Saturday, October 3
Secret Spot: the answers
Five prompts, one answer each, and the fewer surfers who said yours, the more it scored. Here are the prompts with the answers we expected to be most common, and the rarest. Play today's Secret Spot.
1. Name an extinct animal (not a dinosaur)
Each animal counts once; species of one animal count as it (any mammoth is a mammoth, any moa is a moa). Dinosaurs have their own prompt, but extinct birds, pterosaurs, sea reptiles and ancient sharks count.
Most common
- Mammoth
- Dodo
- Megalodon
Rarest
- Elasmosaurus: When Elasmosaurus was first rebuilt, its skull was put on the end of its tail by mistake. Source: Wikipedia, “Elasmosaurus” (CC BY-SA)
- Placoderm: Placoderms were ancient fish whose heads were covered in armored plates. Source: Wikipedia, “Placoderm” (CC BY-SA)
- Palaeoloxodon: Palaeoloxodon includes the largest elephants ever known, with bulls over 4 m (13 ft) tall at the shoulder. Source: Wikipedia, “Palaeoloxodon” (CC BY-SA)
Before the crowd came in: the answers we expected to be most and least common, from how well known each one is.
2. Name a fast food chain
Each chain counts once, by any of its names (Dunkin' is Dunkin' Donuts, Carl's Jr. and Hardee's count apart). Fast casual, pizza, chicken and doughnut chains count; sit-down restaurants, coffee shops and ice cream shops don't.
Most common
- McDonald's
- Burger King
- Chick-fil-A
Rarest
- Golden Krust: Golden Krust, known for Jamaican patties, is New York City's largest locally owned restaurant chain. Source: Wikipedia, “Golden Krust” (CC BY-SA)
- Pal's: The first Pal's opened in 1956, a year after its founder met Ray Kroc at a restaurant convention. Source: Wikipedia, “Pal's” (CC BY-SA)
- Zippy's: One of Hawaii chain Zippy's best-selling dishes is chili. Source: Wikipedia, “Zippy's” (CC BY-SA)
Before the crowd came in: the answers we expected to be most and least common, from how well known each one is.
3. Name a mountain
A single mountain, peak or volcano, by any of its names, with or without "Mount" (Fuji is Mount Fuji, Denali is Mount McKinley). Mountain ranges don't count. Mountains that share a name count once.
Most common
- Mount Everest
- Mount Fuji
- Mount Kilimanjaro
Rarest
- Mount Tamalpais: Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California is known locally as Mount Tam. Source: Wikipedia, “Mount Tamalpais” (CC BY-SA)
- Huayna Picchu: Huayna Picchu is the peak that rises over Machu Picchu, and the Incas built temples and terraces at its top. Source: Wikipedia, “Huayna Picchu” (CC BY-SA)
- Mount Monadnock: New Hampshire's Mount Monadnock is often cited as one of the most climbed mountains in the world. Source: Wikipedia, “Mount Monadnock” (CC BY-SA)
Before the crowd came in: the answers we expected to be most and least common, from how well known each one is.
4. Name a Pokémon
Each species counts once, by its English name. Its forms and Mega Evolutions count as it (Mega Charizard is Charizard), but each evolution is its own answer (Pikachu and Raichu are two).
Most common
- Pikachu
- Bulbasaur
- Charizard
Rarest
- Delibird: Delibird is a penguin inspired by Santa Claus, and its tail looks like a sack of gifts. Source: Wikipedia, “Delibird” (CC BY-SA)
- Klefki: Klefki, a living key ring that collects keys, was inspired by old mansions and secret keys. Source: Wikipedia, “Klefki” (CC BY-SA)
- Meltan: Meltan has a body of liquid metal and a hardware nut for a head, with one eye floating in the middle. Source: Wikipedia, “Meltan” (CC BY-SA)
Before the crowd came in: the answers we expected to be most and least common, from how well known each one is.
5. Name a mineral
Each mineral counts once, by its name; a gem or variety counts as its mineral (amethyst is quartz, ruby is corundum). Native elements found as minerals count (gold, copper, sulfur).
Most common
- Quartz
- Diamond
- Gold
Rarest
- Benitoite: Under short-wave ultraviolet light, benitoite glows bright blue. Source: Wikipedia, “Benitoite” (CC BY-SA)
- Ulexite: Ulexite is nicknamed TV rock or TV stone for its unusual optical properties. Source: Wikipedia, “Ulexite” (CC BY-SA)
- Phosphophyllite: Collectors prize phosphophyllite for its delicate bluish-green color, though it is rarely cut. Source: Wikipedia, “Phosphophyllite” (CC BY-SA)
Before the crowd came in: the answers we expected to be most and least common, from how well known each one is.