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Monster Hunter World: How To Catch The Living Fossil

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Where to find the petricanth, how to catch the prehistoric fish.

The prehistoric fish known as the Petricanth is an addition to the Endemic Life monsters in Monster Hunter World and it is the rarest fish in the whole game. Catching the Petricanth is a challenging experience.

Related: Monster Hunter World: How To Defeat Barroth

You'll need to catch one of these to complete the "Research Help: Capture the Ancient" bounty, plus, you'll be rewarded with a trophy/achievement and the ability to place it in your house. Our guide entails the fishing locations of prehistoric fish in Monster Hunter World and mentions how to catch this rarest fish faster.

In the world of Monster Hunter World, the Petricanth spawns only at two locations , and those are:

• At a small pond in Sector 15 of Rotten Vale.
• The Eastern Camp in Sector 8 of Elder's Recess . It rarely spawns there, but still, the chances are high.

Note: If you have the Iceborne DLC for Monster Hunter World, it can also be pawswapped with plunderers in the Rotten Vale.

Rotten Vale, by far, is the best place to catch Petricanth. However, you will at least need to have unlocked five-star quests in Monster Hunter World to increase the chances for the fish to spawn in Rotten Vale.

The steps below will help you to catch the Petricanth quickly.

• Firstly, depart for an expedition on Rotten Vale at the central Camp in Area 11 .
• Now open up your map and go to the level below that to find Area 15 . Now, put a marker on your map at the location shown in the image above and let the Scout Flies guide you there.
• Once you reach Area 15, go to the very end of it, and you will see two small blue ponds . However, you will never see any fish on the left one, so you need to head for the right one at this point.
• The ponds will mostly have green and yellow fish there. However, if you get lucky, you will find Petricanth there.
• End your expedition and start a new one if you do not find the Petricanth. Then repeat all the steps we have mentioned so far. Since the Petricanth is a rare spawn, you will find it in your first five to ten tries.
• So when you do find the Petricanth, equip your Fishing Rod , and throw the fishing rod near the Petricanth. While trying to catch the Petricanth, do not wiggle your bait too much as it will scare the fish away.
• Other fish in the pond might cause you problems by biting the bait. However, you must focus on catching them, and eventually, you will get rid of them.

If you are having trouble getting the Petricanth to bite, then we recommend using the Baitbug . You can find some of them near the pond.

Once you reel the Petricanth, you will achieve the “A Living Fossil Achievement” trophy and get 500 RP points . Once you have caught the Petricanth, you can place it inside the Aquarium in your home and admire it. To do this, go back to your living quarter, talk to your housekeeper, select "Place Your Pet" , and then choose the Petricanth. Next, walk up to the Aquarium, and you will get the option to admire.

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Monster Hunter World Capture The Ancient Quest - A Living Fossil Trophy

Home » Monster Hunter World » Monster Hunter World Capture The Ancient Quest – A Living Fossil Trophy

Capture the Ancient is a quest in Monster Hunter World. It’s the last mission you’ll get from the Piscine Researcher, in which he’ll ask you to find the Petricanths, an ancient creature that’s part of the endemic life of the New World. Once you do, you’ll get the A Living Fossil trophy. It’s easier said than done, though – he has no hints about the location, or what the beastie looks like. That’s why we’ve decided to write this guide, to help you complete the Monster Hunter World Capture The Ancient quest .

Ancient fish location

We’ve caught the ancient fish at Elder’s Recess, in the crystal-encased pond in sector 8. The pond is right next to the Eastern Camp – you can’t miss it. Before you head off, make sure you have some proper bait, like the Bait Bug. Regular Fodder won’t work on this sea monster.

If the fish isn’t there at once, you can fast travel away and back. You’ll easily spot it – it’s large, black and has light blue spots all over. Once it spawns, simply throw the bait – don’t wiggle it. When you turn in the quest, you’ll get 800 research points and a Deluxe First Wyverian Print.

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He can be caught multiple times. He’s just an extremely rare spawn that’s dependent on RNG to even have a chance to be there. Additionally, regular fodder does work on this fish. I caught him my first time with it.

It came back for me, but I had to start a new expedition like 15 times.

I caught this fish before they gave me the quest and I got the trophy, and now it does not appear, I’ve tried a lot of times. Does it appear only once?

I’m running into the same thing. Did you ever get it?

Yeah, how do you unlock that particular mission again? I’ve looked in every map for the man and he hasn’t given me the task yet.

After doing the other fishing missions you have to find the fisherman guy on a low rank expedition.

• Version History 1
• Voyage to the New World 3
• Jagras of the Ancient Forest 4
• Astera After the Jagras Investigation 5
• Fungal Flexin' in the Ancient Forest 6
• A Kestodon Kerfuffle 7
• Great Jagras - The Great Jagras Hunt 8
• Rebuild the Ancient Forest Camp 9
• Kulu-Ya-Ku - Bird-Brained Bandit 10
• Pukei-Pukei - Urgent: Pukei-Pukei Hunt 11
• The Best Kind of Quest 12
• Barroth - The Best Kind of Quest 13
• Snatch the Snatcher 14
• Landing the Landslide Wyvern 15
• Jyuratodus - Sinister Shadows in the Swamp 16
• The Pain from Gains 17
• Exterminator of the Waste 18
• Tobi-Kadachi - Flying Sparks: Tobi-Kadachi 19
• A Prickly Predicament 20
• Gettin' Yolked in the Waste 21
• Wildspire Waste Expedition 22
• Anjanath - The Encroaching Anjanath 23
• One for the History Books 24
• Rathian - Royal Relocation 25
• Gettin' Yolked in the Forest 26
• Great Ravine Expedition 27
• It's a Crying Shamos 28
• What a Bunch of Abalone 29
• Tzitzi-Ya-Ku - A Tzitzi for Science 30
• Paolumu - Ballooning Problems 31
• Another Coral Highlands Expedition 32
• Troubled Troopers 33
• White Monster for a White Coat 34
• Radobaan - Radobaan Roadblock 35
• Persistent Pests 36
• On Nightmare's Wings 37
• Great Girros - A Rotten Thing To Do 38
• Legiana - Legiana: Embodiment of Elegance 39
• Into the Bowels of the Vale 40
• Odogaron - Into the Bowels of the Vale 41
• Rotten Vale Expedition 42
• Man's Best Fiend 43
• The Meat of the Matter 44
• The First Wyverian Expedition 45
• Rathalos - A Fiery Throne Atop the Forest 46
• Diablos - Horned Tyrant Below the Sands 47
• Kirin - Gone in a Flash 48
• Redefining the "Power Couple" 49
• Zorah Magdaros - A Colossal Task 50
• Invader in the Waste 51
• Getting Started in High Rank 52
• High Rank Quests and Expeditions 53
• Chef Quest! Pumped to Deliver 54
• Tickled Pink 55
• Chef Quest! A Rotten Request 56
• Pink Rathian - Old World Monster in the New World 57
• Elder's Recess Expedition 58
• Optional Quests After the Elder's Recess 59
• Second Expedition to the Elder's Recess 60
• A Meow for Help 61
• A Scalding Scoop 62
• Chef Quest! Gajalaka Lockdown 63
• Dodogama - Dodogama Drama 64
• Azure Rathalos - Rathalos in Blue 65
• Black Diablos - Two-Horned Hostility 66
• Lavasioth - Lavasioth, Monster of Magma 67
• Uragaan - Ore-Eating Occupier 68
• Bazelgeuse - Bazelgeuse in the Field of Fire 69
• Talons of Ire and Ice 70
• The Red and Blue Crew 71
• A Fiery Convergence 72
• Nergigante - A Wound and a Thirst 73
• Elder Dragon Investigations 74
• Stuck in Their Ways 75
• A Sore Site 76
• RRRRRumble in the Waste 77
• Extremely Rare Endemic Life Investigations 78
• Lightning Strikes Twice 79
• Kushala Daora - Kushala Daora, Dragon of Steel 80
• A Portent of Disaster 81
• Teostra - Teostra the Infernal 82
• A Blaze on the Sand 83
• Vaal Hazak - Hellish Fiend Vaal Hazak 84
• Xeno'Jiiva - Land of Convergence 85
• The Post Game Begins 86
• Beyond the Blasting Scales 87
• Tempered Kirin - Thunderous Rumble in the Highlands 88
• Deviljho - The Food Chain Dominator 89
• Tempered Monsters 90
• Feystones 91
• Streamstones 92
• Augments 93
• Great Jagras 94
• Kulu-Ya-Ku 95
• Pukei-Pukei 96
• Jyuratodus 98
• Tobi-Kadachi 99
• Anjanath 100
• Rathian 101
• Tzitzi-Ya-Ku 102
• Paolumu 103
• Great Girros 104
• Radobaan 105
• Legiana 106
• Odogaron 107
• Rathalos 108
• Diablos 109
• Zorah Magdaros 111
• Dodogama 112
• Pink Rathian 113
• Bazelgeuse 114
• Deviljho 115
• Lavasioth 116
• Uragaan 117
• Azure Rathalos 118
• Black Diablos 119
• Nergigante 120
• Teostra 121
• Kushala Daora 122
• Vaal Hazak 123
• Xeno'Jiiva 124
• Conqueror of the New World 125
• Welcome to the New World 126
• Nothing Stops This Commission 127
• Defender of Astera 128
• Into the Deep 129
• Death Begets Life 130
• The Empress of the Highlands 131
• One Shall Stand, One Shall Fall 132
• The Sapphire Star 133
• The Hunter's Life for Me 134
• An Inquisitive Mind 135
• The Franchise Hunter 136
• Step into the Arena 137
• Nowhere to Go but Up 138
• New World Settler 139
• The Art of Camouflage 140
• Angling for a Bite 141
• Mmm, So Tasty! 142
• The Bigger They Are... 143
• A Living Fossil 144
• Snuggles for All 145
• Bristles for All 146
• Rainbow Bright 147
• Commissioned Work 148
• Bourgeois Hunter 149
• Impregnable Defense 150
• Power is Everything 151
• Movin' On Up 152
• First Friends 153
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• Temper Temper 156
• Indomitable 157
• Miniature Crown 158
• Miniature Crown Collector 159
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• Capture Novice 164
• Capture Pro 165
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Monster Hunter World

Walkthrough elder dragons, extremely rare endemic life investigations.

If you’re a trophy/achievement hunter, you may have noticed some hidden trophies on your list, which, if you peek, charges you with capturing rare endemic life… and one fish. Some of these appear as delivery requests, while others can be done free-form, but they’ll all be covered here. Who doesn’t love trophies, after all? Plus, it does involve a bit of running about on expeditions, which is exactly what you need to be doing to further your ongoing Elder Dragon investigations. Two birds, right? Speaking of two birds…

Research Help: Phantom Bird ¶

Look out for the Endemic Life Researcher in the Ancient Forest, and when you find her there, travel to the Ancient Forest. You’ll find her in her usual spot along the western end of AREA 5, near the Northeast Camp. Talk to her and she’ll tell you that the fruits of your labors - and her research - has led to her finding a new critter for you to hunt. To this end, she’ll give you the delivery request Research Help: Phantom Bird , charging you with finding this aforementioned critter, which she provides little information about.

That’s what guides are for though, no? This “Phantom Bird” she’s after just so happens to be a Downy Crake, a fluffy bird whose location isn’t best answered with a “where”, but with an “on what”. The Downy Crake isn’t found on its own, as it’s a symbiote that travels on the backs of other, larger monsters. In this case, you can find them hitching rides on Apceros in the Wildspire Waste. Your best bet for finding them is to simply travel to the Southwest Camp in the Wildspire Waste and check the backs of the three Apceros that spawn there. They’re gray little puff balls of birdy cuteness that line up on the backs of their Apceros host.

Unfortunately, there’s a further complication, as for critters that roost on the backs of loud, lurking armor dinosaurs that often end up as prey for other, larger dinosaurs, they’re rather flighty. Sneaking may not be sufficient cover - to bag these birdies, you’re going to want to make use of your Ghillie Mantle. If that’s not annoying enough, the Downy Crake won’t show up every time you enter the area, so you’ll likely need to travel between areas (traveling between camps on the same map is not sufficient).

So… equip a Ghillie Mantle, travel to the Southwest Camp in the Wildspire Waste, head out into the AREA 1, use your Ghillie Mantle, then search the backs of the Apceros there for your birds. If you see them, get close and catch them with capture net. When you return to the Endemic Life Researcher she’ll give you a Gold Wyverian Print.

Snuggles for All

Capture a fluffy, snuggly creature.

Bagging a Bristly Crake ¶

If you’ve still got a mind to go after more birds, there’s another rare critter out there. There’s no quest and fanfare this time, but there are many similarities. This bird - the Bristly Crake - rides on the back of another symbiotic animal, this time a Mosswine, and only those in the Rotten Vale. It’s also very flighty, so you’ll again need to make use of your Ghillie Mantle.

In the Rotten Vale there are two locations you can find a Mosswine, and hence, the Bristle Crake. From the Southeast Camp, jump off the cliff and turn west to reach the wider platform in AREA 3. After reaching this larger area, immediately turn south to find a hole you can crawl through, beyond which (in AREA 5) you can find a Mosswine.

From the Central Camp, leap off two cliffs to the northwest and northeast, then continue north and turn west and climb up a ledge to reach the chamber (AREA 10) adjacent to the Odogaron’s lair (AREA 13). Head to the southern end of this area to find a hole you can crawl through to reach the Grimalkyne cave (AREA 14), then turn west to reach the chamber the Grimalkyne actually occupy. Once inside, turn south and climb up a ledge to reach the walkway overlooking the fishing pond, on which a Mosswine lurks. Travel between areas, as the Bristly Crake may not appear in the Rotten Vale every time, check both Mosswine locations, and repeat as necessary.

Bristles for All

Capture a stiff, bristly creature.

Poaching a Prism Hercudrome ¶

This next creature can be easier or more difficult to catch, depending on your luck. You don’t need a Ghillie Mantle, and you don’t need to look for another creature, this target’s location is static. Unfortunately, your target’s schedule is erratic, and it’ll only appear during the dawn and the dusk.

First, the location. Travel to the Northeast Camp in the Coral Highlands, crawl out through the hole to the west, turn north and drop off a cliff to the north, then drop off another cliff to the west, and finally jump off a third cliff to the south. On the lowest part of AREA 10, turn west and crawl through a hole, then follow the linear path ahead until you reach a waterfall-fed pond. At this water, turn north and follow the stream northwest until it converges with another stream before finally running off a cliff. Where the stream you followed unites with another, turn northeast and head up a ramp and follow the path as it winds around some large mushroom-like plants. On the northern end of larger mushroom you may find your target - a Prism Hercudrome. If your insect isn’t there, you’ll have to return after some time has passed - traveling between maps should do the trick.

Rainbow Bright

Capture a creature that glitters like a rainbow.

Research Help: Capture the Ancient ¶

If you’ve completed all the other delivery requests for the Piscine Researcher and you see him again in the Rotten Vale, go pay him a visit. You’ll find him along the eastern end of AREA 9, and when you talk to him he’ll ask you to catch one final fish, starting the delivery request Research Help: Capture the Ancient .

You won’t find this creature in the Rotten Vale, but amusingly enough, you can find one where you may have caught the last fish (the Platinumfish). Travel to the Eastern Camp (AREA 8) in the Elder’s Recess and check out the fish-filled pool to the east, where, along the northern end of the pool, you may find the fish you’re looking for. You’ll know it if it’s there, as it’s rather large and has bright blue spots on it, although it can be somewhat far out to the north, possibly obscured by crystals. Catch this prehistoric fish, this Petricanths, and talk to the Piscine Researcher afterwards to obtain another Gold Wyverian Print.

A Living Fossil

Capture a fish known as "the living fossil."

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Guide Information

• Publisher Capcom
• Platforms, PS4, XB One
• Genre Action RPG
• Guide Release 13 February 2018
• Last Updated 7 December 2020
• Guide Author Nathan Garvin

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This guide features a full, beginning-to-end walkthrough written in an “ideal chronological order of events” format. Main quests are interspersed with side quests in the order in which they unlock, although some side quests and arena challenges may only be referenced instead of fully explained. These are typically quests that have you facing a monster you’ve already fought under similar circumstances that offer no unique reward for completion. For example, after completing most main quests you won’t be able to attempt that quest again, but you’ll usually unlock an identical side quest allowing you to hunt the same monster in the same area with the same success/failure conditions.

Monster strategies will be discussed in detail as you encounter them throughout the walkthrough, featuring elemental and status information and drop lists. The guide also features a fully detailed bestiary for those who just want information about specific monsters unaccompanied by a walkthrough. Trophy/achievement information can also be found in a separate trophy/achievement guide, although be warned: many trophies/achievements in Monster Hunter World are easier said than done.

Other features of this guide include:

• Information on crafting/harvesting.
• Side quests that unlock mantles, ingredients and other useful features.
• Field Researcher quests including where to catch rare fish, how to capture small monsters, and where to locate Grimalkynes/Gajalaka.
• Grimalkyne/Gajalaka quests.
• How to upgrade the Ancient Tree/Harvest Box and how to unlock various fertilizers.
• How the Elder Melder works, melding different items and decorations.
• Where to find the Powertalon and Armortalon, and how to upgrade them into the Powercharm and Armorcharm.
• Detailed information on how to unlock Tempered Monsters, the difference between Threat Level 1, 2 and 3 Tempered Monsters.
• Information on Feystones, including drop rates, the differences between the types (Mysterious, Gleaming, Worn and Warped).
• How to get Warrior’s Streamstones and Hero’s Streamstones.

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All Piscine Researcher Critical Bounties in Monster Hunter World

Complete all critical bounties from the Piscine Researcher in Monster Hunter World.

There are a lot of quests to complete in Monster Hunter World. Some of these will stay on your HUD indefinitely, even if you’d rather worry about other things. Some you’ll get while out on an expedition and struggle to keep track of going forward. The latter group of quests are often Critical Bounties, and usually given to you from the Piscine Researcher or Endemic Life Researcher. Today we’ll be focusing on the former.

Piscine Researcher Critical Bounties

Last updated on March 6, 2020 at 4:31 p.m. EST.

There are six Critical Bounties that are given to players from the Piscine Researcher. Most will give you a small reward, but the final quest will give you a Gold Wyverian Print that you can redeem at the Elder Melder . That, my friends, is reason enough alone to grind through this list of tasks, as the Gold Wyverian Print can be redeemed for gems, extremely rare crafting materials. It should be noted, though, that as of the Iceborne DLC, hunters can receive Gold Wyverian Prints for helping lower-ranked hunters with quests. For example, if you are Master Rank and help someone defeat Nergigante on High Rank, you might score a Gold Wyverian Print for your trouble.

Below is a list of Piscine Researcher tasks to complete:

• Ancient Forest Research Help - Pink Paraxus Capture
• Wildspire Waste Research Help - Sushfish Capture
• Coral Highlands Research Help - Gunpowderfish Capture
• Rotten Vale Research Help - Goldenfish Capture
• Elder Recess Research Help - Platinumfish Capture
• Research Help - Capture the Ancient

When you are about to head out on an expedition, look at the world map. As you hover over a location, you’ll get a key on the right side that gives you some important details. One of these will be at the bottom under the Field Researcher section. If you see the Piscine Researcher listed there, you’ll be able to find them at that location and get their quests, assuming you don’t already have it.

If you’d like to see which critical bounties you already have active, which ones are done, and which ones you’ve yet to pick up, visit the Resource Center in Astera or Seliana. Active Critical Bounties will be in the list and the text around them will be lit up. Completed Critical Bounties will be in the list by greyed out, and if you have yet to obtain the critical bounty from the Piscine Researcher, it will be absent from the list entirely. Use that information to see what critical bounties you need to finish by cross referencing it with my list.

It should also be noted that once you finish the first five critical bounties on the list, the sixth will be given in a random location it seems. No fear, just bring up the World Map and you can scan each location for the Piscine Researcher. Locate and pay them a visit in order to get the final critical bounty to complete the set.

Now that you are aware of all critical bounties from the Piscine Researcher in Monster Hunter: World, visit our  Monster Hunter: World hub to check in on what else you’ve been missing thus far in your journey.

Bill, who is also known as Rumpo, is a lifelong gamer and Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He made his mark early in his career through guide writing and a deep understanding of editorial SEO. He enjoys putting in the work to create a great content, be it a wild feature or grinding out an in-depth collectible guide. Tweet him @RumpoPlays if you have a question or comment about one of his articles.

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