ARK Ascended: Every Island Creature Location Guide (2024)

Everybody in ARK: Survival Ascended will have their own reasons for wanting to know the location for each creature on the island. But sometimes, a different creature with murderous intent finds them instead when they least expect it, because why wouldn’t it?

If you’re trying to figure where each of these beasts live on the island then you’ve come to the right place. That is, of course, if you’re looking for a quick solution. No, it’s too late, you can’t back out of the guide. You’ve already committed at this point, keep going to find out where all of the creatures live on the island!

There’s a good chance of you knowing what the creatures look like in ARK: Survival Ascended since not a lot has changed for the common ones you saw in the previous title. Instead, we’ll show you a heat map of where an abundance of each creature can be found.

Some other creatures will share the same region along with everybody else. These will be mentioned in the guide below as well!

Green means common while red translates to you having to relocate before something else finds you.

Triceratops

Let’s start with the Triceratops since there’s plenty of them to go around. They’re more prevalent on Herbivore Island, that’s all the way to the southeast corner of the map.

Parasaur

The Parasaur is known for its recognizable arching head. You can find them in red, brown, green, or yellow.

More importantly, you can find them almost everywhere on the island, everywhere except the arctic region at least.

Carbonemys and Lystrosaurus

If you’re to forgive the crude description then you will understand that these creatures are just giant Snapping Turtles that don’t have an attitude. You’ll have more luck finding them in the Footpaw and the very bottom of The Southern Islets.

You’ll find Lystrosauruses alongside the Carbonemys while you’re exploring the southern half of the island. Their locations are just about the same.

Oviraptor

Since these guys live for the hunt you won’t be finding any of them along the shoreline. Your chances are better inland, try sticking close to the rivers where the rest of the inhabitants feed to increase your chances.

Pteranodon

The two best locations to start looking for these would be Herbivore Island to the bottom right of the map and The Redwood Forests.

Moschops

Your chances of finding Moschops will be better if you look for them at The Southern Islets. More of them will be near South Zone 1 and 2.

Ichthyornis

Same with the Moschops these too, can be seen along South Zone 1 and 2. Some can also be seen near The Footpaw and Weathertop.

Dodo

The entire shoreline is your best friend. You can go all the way to where the rivers empty into the ocean as well. A few pockets of Dodos can be seen inland too.

Stegosaurus

Find them in Herbivore Island to the bottom right of the map and breed them fast. The world needs more of these guys.

Dilophosaurus

They’re everywhere except for the arctic region. You can even find some at the foot of the volcano.

Sabertooth and Argentavis

The further north you go, the more of these you will see as they favor a colder climate. The Argentavis frequents the island on the upper right of the map.

Allosaurus and Doedicurus

You can find them on the upper half of the playable area. Just don’t go too far north, they don’t frequent the arctic that often.

Daeodon and Chalicotherium

All of them gather in the north. If the ice disappears wherever you’re going so will they.

Megaloceros and Mammoth

Just like everyone else with a thick coat, they too, will be in the northern region where all the ice is. The Megaloceros hang around The Red Peak too. That’s in the middle of the map.

Kairuku and Direwolf

How far north can you go in this game? The answer is yes. The once place you’ll find a Kairuku is by the upper left edge of the arctic region. Everywhere else is where the Direwolves will be.

Yutyrannus

They’re sitting on top of the volcano. The arctic region acts as their second home as well.

Carnotaurus and Alpha Carnotaurus

These are the places you should look out for if you don’t want to encounter both creatures early on. They can also spawn at the southern tip of The Footpaw at south zone 1.

This makes the area a difficult place to set up your defenses. There are four other decent places for your starting base though, check out our location guide for that one!

Ankylosaurus

You can find an Ankylosaurus over at The Red Peak and Herbivore Island.

Woolly Rhino

You’ve seen Ice Age before, and there’s only one place in the north of this island where there’s a lot of it.

Piranha and Coelacanth

The Piranha can be found in almost every river in the game. To increase your chances even more, stick to The Southern Islets.

For the Coelacanth, well it’s the same case with the Piranha. The big difference is you can find it even in the deep waters away from the shallows.

Dimorphodon

As you can see, they’re all over the place. You’ll have better luck looking for them however if you stick around The Writhing Swamps. That’s the green area underneath The Redwood Forest.

Iguanadon

An uncommon sighting, but you can still see a few of them over at the Southeastern Shores. That’s next to east zone 2.

Pachyrhinosaurus

Patchy can either be seen in The Redwood Forests or grazing at The Western Plains.

Meganeura

Hope you got bug spray, because these critters are everywhere! Everywhere you go, there’s a Meganeura, you might even be one yourself!

Castoroides

Just follow the rivers inland until they stop. You have a good chance of seeing a Castoroides once you see a group of beavers building a dam.

Brontosaurus

Quite rare but still difficult to miss if you’re just walking near the shores. A small group of them can be found inland as well in The Maw.

Pelagornis

Once you rediscover flight in this world you can roam around the edges of the map to find the Pelagornis.

Pulmonoscorpius

The Pulmonoscorpius will approach anything out of curiosity, that includes you. So watch where you’re going as you walk around south zone 2.

Troodon

They’re all around the island but you can find even more of them again inside The Redwood Forest.

Rex and Microraptor

You’ve seen Jurassic Park, you know well enough to stay away from this guy until very late. But if you can’t help yourself then you can find a handful of them in The Belly of The Beast. Microraptors can be spotted in this area too.

Spino and Therizinosaur

Stick close to the rivers of The Southeast Shores since that’s where they hang around more. You can find Therizinosaurs along this stretch of river as well.

Onyc and Araneo

Onycs will fly around in caves and will get aggressive when you get close enough. You’re gonna do it anyway so head on over to the caves at The Southern Islets.

Araneos reside in the same area as well, giving you two things to worry about while spelunking.

Dung Beetle

A scourge upon the living! If you’re headed for the caves then just follow your nostrils while you’re inside.

Baryonyx and Kaprosuchus

There’s a few handful of Baryonyx along The Writhing Swamps, same goes for the Kaprosuchus. Make the journey more interesting by going to The Belly of the Beast for both instead.

Paraceratherium and Titanoboa

This is what you take for mild fevers right? No? Well, into The Writhing Swamps you go then. That goes for both.

You get a bonus for the Titanoboa since they spawn frequently in south zone 2. Just in case you don’t want to go inland.

Beelzebufo and Phiomia

Stay close to the rivers of The Writhing Swamps if you want to find more of these noisemakers. The Phiomia can be found everywhere inland, everywhere except for The Redwood Forest.

Dimeterodon and Sarco

If it looks like a lizard made bigger then it’s going to hang around the river.

Diplocaulus and Leech

These shy boys can be seen wriggling around The Writhing Swamps. Spotting Leeches here is possible as well if you dive further into the river.

Giant Queen Bee

Their nests can be found on trees or around the walls of The Redwood Forests.

Kentrosaurus

You can find Kent by the northern section of the island. This section would include places like The Maw, The Grand Hills, The Frozen Tooth, Smuggler’s Pass and Far’s Peak.

Terror Bird and Diplodocus

What’s in a name? Well, you can find out once you go to The Belly of the Beast and The Shadow Road.

Moreover, The Redwood Forests are a good place to look too if you’re just looking for a Diplodocus.

Raptor and Alpha Raptor

Uncommon in the southern parts of the island. Improve your luck by heading to either Far’s Peak of The Grand Hills.

Thylacoleo and Archaeopteryx

They hang around at The Redwood Forests. They’ll have a better chance of spotting you first though. An Archaeopteryx can be seen in the same area as well since they enjoy the company of trees.

Achatina

These giant snails enjoy damp places like The Writhing Swamps. A small morsel of Achatinas are also available for gathering in The Redwood Forests.

Hesperp*rnis

You can find a Hesperp*rnis swimming in every river you see on the island. This includes the river that empties into the ocean up north as well.

Trilobite

If you’re waddling around the shores or shallow waters then there’s a high chance of you seeing one of these. Maybe even two!

Megalania

This is that song from that bullet hell game, right? Anyway, there’s four spots on the island where you can find a Megalania.

These places include The Redwood Forests, The Southern Islets, Southeastern Shores, and The Dead Island.

Arthopluera

Finding an Arthopluera will lead you into the caves of The Southern Islets. If you want to look at one without somebody else clawing your face off then go to south zone 2.

Megalosaurus

If you’re looking for a thrill, then go to The Belly of the Beast since they’re more common down there.

Equus and Pachyrhinosaurus

Again these giant zebras like to graze so their numbers are more concentrated on The Western Plains. That’s directly left of The Grand Hills. That applies just about the same for the Pachyrhinosaurus.

Unicorn

Maybe you never see these things these days because they never survived the flood? You still have a chance of seeing them up north and on The Dead Island though. That’s the isolated island on the upper right of the map.

Mesopithecus

There’s an abundance of these over at The Western Approach and The Southern Jungle. You can even spot them at the eastern side of the island as well.

Hyaenodon

Just like in The Lion King (the animated one), these guys hunt in packs. They’re not as dumb as you think though so be careful when you’re out exploring the north.

Megatherium

You have three places to search for this slow creature: The Redwood Forests, Winter’s Mouth, and Whitesky Peak.

Sabertooth Salmon

Sushi anyone? No? Well just in case you change your mind the rivers are you best friend. You can get a fresh catch almost everywhere. Just don’t go looking for them in The Writhing Swamps.

Gallimimus

They enjoy roaming around The Western Plains for food. You can also find them inside of The Redwood Forests.

Quetzal

A wild Quetzal will never stop flying. They make for great transport if you’re looking to move stuff around.

Keep an eye out the next time you’re up in the air since they’re almost everywhere and nowhere at the same time!

Tapejara

You can find Tapejaras living around cliffs, tall redwood forests, and other vertical environments.

Gigantopithecus and Dire Bear

Our ancestors wander around the forests of the island, eating berries off of bushes. While The Redwood Forests is your primary location, they still wander off sometimes.

If you’re lucky, you might even see them out on the beaches. The Dire Bears stay in the forests though.

Yeti and Polar Bear

Yetis are heavy hitters who have a large pool of health. You’re going to need heavy ordinance if you want to visit them in The Ice Wyrm’s Belly.

The Polar Bears wander inside of the belly as well. If you can’t find them there then try The Frozen Maw or The Throat of Borea.

Purlovia

The Purlovia likes to come straight from the underground. They will ambush you whenever you’re in The Belly of the Beast or anywhere in the north that has ice.

Procoptodon

A rare specimen, but not rare enough since you have four places to look. These would be The Red Peak, The Grand Hills, The Frozen Tooth, and Far’s Peak.

Manta and Ichtyosaurus

Swimming next to these things out in the ocean is enough reason for them to get aggressive. Go to the deep waters away from the shores and show them what a good time is.

Megalodon and Alpha Megalodon

That boat you’re in? It’s not big enough. They’ll come for you soon enough while you’re swimming around the deep waters so stay on your toes if you can.

Cnidaria

If you can’t feel your legs while swimming around the shallow waters then there’s a good chance that it’s these guys who did you in.

Electrophorus

They say that Eels taste pretty good. Find out if it’s true the next time you explore west zone 3. That’s where The Caverns of Lost Faith is located.

Basilosaurus and Mosasaurus

They’re pretty much in the same place where you can find a Megalodon. Try to tame one of these, if it lets out red cloud then its show time. You might even be lucky enough to attract a Mosasaurus!

Carcharodontosaurus and Giganotosaurus

The Carcharodontosaurus will attack everything on sight, because who’s going to stop it? You’ll find a few on The Frozen Fang or in The Belly of the Beast. Same goes for the Giganotosaurus.

Rhyniognatha

These creatures can be seen flying around The Writhing Swamps and the northern section of The Southern Islets.

Tusotethis and Dunkleosteus

If you can find it in more than one place, then that’s automatically a good thing. Try The Caverns of Lost Hope if you’re not having any luck elsewhere. Elsewhere translates to the deep waters.

Plesiosaur and Anglerfish

Same with the giant squid, this too, can be found in The Caverns of Lost Hope. They have a higher chance of being spotted in the deep waters as well. You can find the Anglerfish in the same area as well.

Leedsichthys and Alpha Leedcihthys

They enjoy roaming around the deep waters. Just don’t look for them over at the east side, they’re nonexistent over there.

Titanomyrma

These things will attack you in swarms everywhere you go. You’re only safe from them when you’re on a high enough place like the mountains.

Otter

They stick close to the water since that’s their natural habitat. There’s even more of them north of The Redwood Forests though.

Ovis

You know the drill, if the coat’s thick enough then it’s somewhere up in the arctic mountains. They like to come down every now and then to visit The Western Plains too.

Pegomastax

He pegged the what now? If you want to find out more then head on over to The Redwood Forests. The shorelines are an okay place to look around too.

Compy

If they won’t have any luck hunting inland, then they’ll eventually go to the beaches to bother you. The southeastern side of the island is a pretty good start if you don’t want to move in too much.

Eurypterid and Ammonite

You can find them on the ocean floor. Stay close to the seaweeds next time you go hunting for silica pearls.

Liopleurodon

You can find them swimming around the deep waters. If attacked, they’ll spin around and vanish almost instantly, so you better make your shots count.

Were you able to spot and catalog all the island creatures in ARK: Survival Ascended? Why not check All Unlockable Tekgrams next?

And that’s every island creature location in ARK: Survival Ascended. The rest of the alpha variants hang around in the same location as well. Just bring the right tools for the job and you’ll be right as rain!

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