52 Down

NYT Daily ? September 21, 2025

Members of the mongoose family

Answer:

MEERKATS

Hint:

These small, social mammals stand upright on their hind legs to scan for predators in the African savanna. They live in large, cooperative groups called mobs or gangs.

Explanation:

The clue "Members of the mongoose family" directly points to meerkats, which are small, social animals scientifically classified under the Herpestidae family—the same group that includes mongooses. While people often associate meerkats with their upright stance or TV shows like Meerkat Manor, the clue skips wordplay and simply relies on biological classification. The answer is straightforward: meerkats are, in fact, a type of mongoose.

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General solving tip

If the clue shows an abbreviation (org., dept., inits.), the answer usually does too. Mirror the clue's form with initials or a shortened form.

More tips → General Hints