| 100% | RAT | 3 | Small mammal in the Chinese zodiac |
| 79% | RAT | 3 | Smallest animal in the Chinese zodiac |
| 64% | RAT | 3 | First animal in the Chinese zodiac |
| 64% | ROOSTER | 7 | 2017 symbol in the Chinese zodiac |
| 62% | RAT | 3 | Rodent in the Chinese zodiac |
| 62% | TIGER | 5 | Feline in the Chinese zodiac |
| 62% | RAT | 3 | Animal in the Chinese zodiac |
| 60% | RAT | 3 | Skinny-tailed animal in the Chinese zodiac |
| 60% | DRAGON | 6 | Only fictional creature in the Chinese zodiac |
| 60% | RAT | 3 | Ox's predecessor in the Chinese zodiac |
| 60% | OXEN | 4 | Large bovines that are in the Chinese zodiac |
| 59% | PIG | 3 | Animal between dog and rat in the Chinese zodiac |
| 58% | RATS | 4 | Rodents featured in the Chinese zodiac for most of 2020 |
| 55% | YEAROFTHEOX | 11 | 2021 in the Chinese zodiac, with a hint to 17-, 27- and 40-Across |
| 55% | RAT | 3 | Smallest of the Chinese zodiac animals |
| 54% | MARTEN | 6 | Small woodland mammal in the weasel family |
| 49% | BUMBLEBEEBAT | 12 | The smallest mammal in the world, which weighs just 2 grams and averages at 1 inch in length: 2 wds. |
| 48% | RAT | 3 | Year of the ___ (2020, in the Chinese zodiac) |
| 48% | YEAR | 4 | ___ of the Pig (now, in the Chinese zodiac) |
| 48% | YEAR | 4 | ___ of the Rat (now, in the Chinese zodiac) |
| 46% | RAT | 3 | 2020 animal, per the Chinese zodiac |
| 45% | PANDA | 5 | Dweller in the Chinese highlands |
| 45% | WHALES | 6 | Largest mammals in the world |
| 45% | CANCER | 6 | Fourth astrological sign in the Zodiac |
| 45% | TAPIRS | 6 | Largest land mammals in the Amazon |
| 44% | TWELVE | 6 | Number of signs of the Chinese zodiac |
| 44% | COW | 3 | Type of mammal in the Borden logo |
| 44% | SNAKE | 5 | 2001's symbol, in the Chinese calendar |
| 44% | REDPANDA | 8 | Mammal nicknamed the Chinese firefox |
| 44% | RAM | 3 | Aries animal, in the zodiac |