# Animals & Nature Categories The natural world provides endless inspiration for Connections puzzles. From majestic mammals to tiny insects, from towering trees to delicate flowers, this guide will help you spot every creature and natural phenomenon that appears in the grid. ## Animal Categories ### 🦁 Big Cats & Wild Animals ### 🐻 Common Animal Groups

Frequent Animal Categories

Farm Animals

• COW, PIG, SHEEP, GOAT
• CHICKEN, DUCK, TURKEY, GOOSE

Pets

• DOG, CAT, HAMSTER, RABBIT
• GOLDFISH, PARAKEET, GUINEA PIG, TURTLE

### 🦅 Birds by Type

Avian Categories

Songbirds

ROBIN, SPARROW, CARDINAL, FINCH

Water Birds

SWAN, CRANE, HERON, PELICAN

Flightless Birds

OSTRICH, EMU, PENGUIN, KIWI

## Insects & Small Creatures ### 🦋 Flying Insects

Bugs That Fly

• Pollinators: BEE, BUTTERFLY, MOTH, WASP
• Pests: FLY, MOSQUITO, GNAT, MIDGE
• Beautiful Bugs: DRAGONFLY, FIREFLY, LADYBUG, BEETLE

### 🕷️ Creepy Crawlies

Ground Dwellers

Arachnids

SPIDER, SCORPION, TICK, MITE

Other Crawlers

ANT, CENTIPEDE, WORM, SLUG

## Plants & Trees ### 🌳 Tree Types ### 🌸 Flowers & Plants

Botanical Categories

Common Flowers

ROSE, DAISY, TULIP, LILY

Garden Herbs

BASIL, MINT, SAGE, THYME

Houseplants

FERN, IVY, CACTUS, SUCCULENT

## Natural Phenomena ### 🌦️ Weather & Climate

Weather Patterns

• Precipitation: RAIN, SNOW, SLEET, HAIL
• Storms: HURRICANE, TORNADO, BLIZZARD, TYPHOON
• Sky Phenomena: RAINBOW, LIGHTNING, AURORA, FOG

### 🏔️ Natural Features

Earth's Features

Landforms

MOUNTAIN, VALLEY, CANYON, PLATEAU

Water Features

RIVER, LAKE, OCEAN, STREAM

## Tricky Nature Categories ### ⚠️ Animals with Double Meanings

Watch Out For These!

CRANE

Bird OR construction equipment OR neck movement

SEAL

Marine animal OR security closure OR approve

BAT

Flying mammal OR sports equipment

BEAR

Animal OR carry OR stock market term

### 🎯 Animal Sounds & Baby Names

Special Animal Categories

Animal Sounds

ROAR, CHIRP, BARK, MEOW

Baby Animals

CUB, CALF, FOAL, CHICK

Animal Groups

PACK, HERD, FLOCK, SCHOOL

## Habitats & Ecosystems ### 🌍 Biomes

Natural Environments

• Forest Types: RAINFOREST, TAIGA, DECIDUOUS, MANGROVE
• Dry Regions: DESERT, SAVANNA, PRAIRIE, STEPPE
• Wet Areas: SWAMP, MARSH, BOG, WETLAND
• Cold Regions: TUNDRA, GLACIER, ARCTIC, ALPINE

## Quick Reference: Nature Scan

Animals & Nature Checklist

Animals

☐ Mammals by type
☐ Birds by habitat
☐ Insects & bugs
☐ Marine life

Plants

☐ Trees
☐ Flowers
☐ Crops/herbs
☐ Wild plants

Natural World

☐ Weather terms
☐ Landforms
☐ Habitats
☐ Seasons

## Pro Tips for Nature Categories 1. **Think Taxonomically**: Animals often group by family (cats, dogs, primates) 2. **Consider Habitats**: Desert animals, ocean creatures, forest dwellers 3. **Watch for Tricks**: Not all "fish" are fish (whales, dolphins) 4. **Know Your Collective Nouns**: Pride, pack, flock, school 5. **Double Meanings Abound**: Many animal names have other uses ## Read Next

Color Categories Guide

Many animals and plants are strongly associated with specific colors.

Geography & Places

Animals often group by their geographic origins and habitats.