In the sequence of animals below, each animal's name begins with the last two letters of the name of the previous animal.

PUMA
MANDRILL
LLAMA
MARMON

Can you construct a list of animals according to the same pattern, beginning with HIPPO and ending with ERMINE?

(Possible) Answer:

HIPPO
PORPOISE
SEAL
ALLIGATOR
ORANGUTAN
ANTEATER
ERMINE

Credit:
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
May 22, 2005
Will Shortz