ALL ANSWERS · ANIMALS · DAILY No. 36 · OCTOBER 9, 2026
Size It Up Animals answer: October 9
The five Animals silhouettes for October 9, with the true sizes. If you have not played yet, this page is a spoiler — play these five first, then come back to argue with the numbers.
Day 36 ran from a deathstalker scorpion (5.8 cm) to a gray whale (15.2 m). The widest gap was round 1, Harbor Seal against Gray Whale, at 8.9×; the closest call was round 5, Rock Pigeon against Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, only 1.8× apart — the kind of round that separates a 90 from a 60.
SPOILER · TODAY’S FIVE
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ROUND 1
Harbor Seal vs Gray Whale (adult)
Gray Whale · reference · 15.2 m Harbor Seal · true length · 1.7 m 8.9× shorter than the gray whale
A harbor seal is about 1.7 m long — the same as an average adult human.
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ROUND 2
Southern Elephant Seal (adult bull, rear flippers included) vs Smilodon (Smilodon fatalis, body length)
Smilodon · reference · 1.75 m Southern Elephant Seal · true length · 4.6 m 2.6× longer than the smilodon
Adult southern elephant seal bulls grow to between 4.6 m and 5.8 m long, rear flippers included; females average only 2.6 to 3 m.
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ROUND 3
European Hedgehog (large adult) vs North American Beaver (head and body)
North American Beaver · reference · 90 cm European Hedgehog · true length · 26 cm 3.5× shorter than the North American beaver
A large European hedgehog is about 26 cm long and rolls into a spined ball when threatened.
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ROUND 4
Deathstalker Scorpion (adult) vs European Rabbit
European Rabbit · reference · 40 cm Deathstalker Scorpion · true length · 5.8 cm 6.9× shorter than the European rabbit
A deathstalker scorpion averages about 5.8 cm long, and its venom is among the most potent of any scorpion.
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ROUND 5
Rock Pigeon vs Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (adult female, with tail spine)
Atlantic Horseshoe Crab · reference · 60 cm Rock Pigeon · true length · 33 cm 1.8× shorter than the Atlantic horseshoe crab
A city pigeon is about 33 cm long, beak to tail.
Beat these tomorrow
Every round is worth up to 100 points: within 6% of the true size scores 100, half or double scores 45, five times off scores zero. The daily puzzle is the same five for everyone and refreshes at midnight in your time zone; if you want more than five, Size It Up Unlimited draws fresh pairs from the whole library for as long as you like.