‘Aquatic mammal whose closest terrestrial relative is the hippopotamus’ NYT Mini Crossword clue answer and hints

Have you ever studied Biology and focused on the topic of evolution? Today’s NYT Mini Crossword clue, “Aquatic mammal whose closest terrestrial relative is the hippopotamus,” tests your knowledge of marine animals connected with terrestrial animals. 

If the NYT Mini Crossword clues are giving you a hard time, our helpful hints and solutions below will help you easily find the answer.

‘Aquatic mammal whose closest terrestrial relative is the hippopotamus’ NYT Oct. 1 Mini Crossword hints and answer

• Hint 1: The ocean giant has the largest on Earth.
• Hint 2: The five-letter word is famous for singing long, complex songs, especially in the humpback variety.
• Hint 3: It starts with the letter “W.” 
• Hint 4: The solution also has thick layers of fat that insulate them against the cold waters of the deep sea, helping regulate body temperature and store energy. 

Let’s jump in and reveal the answer.

The answer to seven across in the Oct. 1 New York Times Mini Crossword is “WHALE.” The clue traces the evolutionary connection between the two species. Despite living in the ocean, whales share characteristics with terrestrial mammals like hippopotamuses. According to the American Museum of Natural History, whales and hippopotamuses both share a common ancestor that lived about 55 million years ago.

‘Aquatic mammal whose closest terrestrial relative is the hippopotamus’ NYT Mini Crossword difficulty rating

There are only a few aquatic animals as large as whales on Earth. When you connect with the hippopotamus, the obvious answer might seem out of reach for many people, as you’d need a working knowledge of biology to know that hippos have a connection to whales through evolution. So, I’d give it a three out of five for difficulty.

NYT Mini Crossword (Oct. 1) answers

Across

• 1A One is officially called an “Academy Award of Merit” — OSCAR
• 6A Aquatic mammal whose closest terrestrial relative is the hippopotamus — WHALE
• 7A Charlie Brown’s friend with a blanket — LINUS
• 8A City founded by twin brothers, according to legend — ROME
• 9A Something to cram for — TEST

Down

• 1D The bird Duo in Duolingo’s logo, e.g. — OWL
• 2D Button-up or button-down — SHIRT
• 3D Olympic racing vessel since 1936 — CANOE
• 4D Class reunion attendees — ALUMS
• 5D Button you might need a paper clip to press on an electronic device — RESET

How to play other word games like the NYT Mini Crossword

Do you want to break the NYT Mini word games crossword mold? You can elevate your game with the LA Times or Washington Post. If you want to avoid crosswords, then Strands and Spelling Bee are amazing alternatives.