1. QUICK, EASY TO FOLLOW
 RULEBOOK-STYLE LAYOUT
FOR THE CARDS IN THE BLACK DECK

Upper Half Connect Cards

  • They complete the animal illustration displayed on Lower Half Connect Cards.

  • When matched, connect both halves edge-to-edge to form the entire animal.

  • Connect Cards are worth 80 POINTS when matched.

  • Draw again after matching an Upper half Connect Card with its Lower Half Connect card.


    NOTE:     Only Upper Half Connect Cards display an animal category at the top of each card (the Lower Half Connect Cards all say CONNECT at the top of each card)

Minus Cards

  • Already worth minus POINTS (e.g., -75, -90, -100).

  • Do not need to be matched to win the round.

  • When covered with their matching ANTI-Minus Cards, they become positive POINTS.

  • Any Minus Cards left at the end of the round must be subtracted from your score.

Wild Cards

There are 2 kinds of Wild Cards:

  • Four BEAST cards worth 0 POINTS, and one BEST BEAST card worth 50 POINTS.

  • When drawn, you must place a WILD card over one of your starting cards.

    - Best starting cards to cover:

    • Cover a Category Card with the lowest indicated point value, or

    • Cover a Minus Card to avoid getting stuck with minus points at the end of the round.

  • The covered card is now worth the Wild Card’s points (0 or 50)

  • Once placed, Wild Cards cannot be removed.

Side Bonus Cards

There are 8 different Side Bonus Cards:

  • Each card highlights an animal category (e.g., MAMMAL, OCEAN, BIRD, MYTHICAL).

  • There are 8 different Side Bonus Cards:

When drawn:

  • If any of your starting cards match that same animal category, take the Side Bonus Card and place it to the side of your starting cards — draw again.

  • If no match, discard it — next player’s turn.

    NOTE: Even if you lose the round, Side Bonus Cards are always guaranteed POINTS!

Dig In Pile Cards (MOLE Cards)

There are six MOLE cards:

  • Used to “dig” for missed cards buried in the discard pile.

  • Allow you to pick up the entire discard pile and search for:

    • Matching animal cards that cover or connect to any of your starting cards.

    • missed Side Bonus Cards that match to one of your animal categories.

    • There is no limit to the number of cards you can dig for.

  • Picked from draw pile: 

    • If you choose to use a MOLE card - If you successfully retrieve at least one card, your turn continues, discard the MOLE card — draw again.

    • If you choose not to use a MOLE card - discard it — next player’s turn.

  • On top of the discard pile:

    • If you choose to use a MOLE card - Your turn ends after digging, whether successful or not, the MOLE card remains on top of the discard pile — the next player may re-use the MOLE card.

    • If you choose not to use a MOLE card — draw a card.

Specialty Cards

There are three different Specialty Cards, each with a special task:

  • · HYENA Card: Give one of your cards worth POINTS to another player (if you have POINTS).

  • · RACCOON Card: Take a card worth POINTS from another player (if they have POINTS).

  • · EARTHWORM Card: Switch one of your cards worth POINTS cards with another player’s card that is also worth POINTS (if you both have POINTS).

Specialty Card Rules:

  • You must use a Specialty Card if you can.

  • You can give, take, or switch any POINTS (This also includes: minus POINTS, 0 POINTS, and Side Bonus POINTS).

  • If a card is covering or connected to another card, transfer both together — place transferred card(s) in player’s row of starting cards.

    Picked from draw pile: 

    • If you can use a Specialty Card - you must use it, then discard it — draw again.

    • If you can’t use a Specialty Card - discard it — next player’s turn.

  • On top of the discard pile:

    • If you can use a Specialty Card - you must use it, your turn ends automatically after using it, the Specialty Card remains on top of the discard pile — next player’s turn.

    • If you can’t use a Specialty Card - pay no mind — draw a card.

  • Each Specialty Card can only be used once!

  • Specialty Cards cannot be dug for.

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