Features on the backs of African 4-Downs
Latest answer — September 30, 2026
8 Across
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Clue explained
MANES are the raised strips of hair along the backs of African civets, the spotted sub-Saharan carnivores identified by 4-Down. The plural is required because the clue refers to features on multiple animals.
- Clue type:
- Cross-reference
WaPo Mini Crossword
This clue's Wednesday, September 30, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Features on the backs of African 4-Downs” in the The Washington Post Mini crossword is MANES — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on September 30, 2026 at 8-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.
“Features on the backs of African 4-Downs” answer
MANES (5 letters)
Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's MANES.
What does MANES mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of MANES is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- (in ancient Roman belief) the souls of dead ancestors, worshipped as benevolent spirits
When else has “Features on the backs of African 4-Downs” appeared?
The Washington Post Mini reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.
September 30, 2026 (most recent) → MANES. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Features on the backs of African 4-Downs”?
The answer is MANES, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on September 30, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Features on the backs of African 4-Downs”?
5 letters: MANES.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on September 30, 2026, at 8-Across.
Can “Features on the backs of African 4-Downs” have a different answer?
Yes — The Washington Post Mini sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.
Where can I find the rest of today's WaPo Mini answers?
Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the WaPo Mini answers page.
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