Curator’s Notes · The familiar roster

Explorer’s field list

Dinosaurs from major films, documentaries and games, alongside familiar names from books and museums. Explorer uses the same reviewed profiles and family tree as Expert.

The list follows familiarity rather than a fixed quota. It contains 232 possible discoveries, with 4 familiar names retained as legal guesses under their existing answer restrictions.

A more familiar field list

We reviewed the first selection’s weaker media and book connections. 35 names from that list are now retained in Expert. All included Jurassic film and Evolution names and the major documentary selections are retained in Explorer.

These are familiarity judgments. Each genus keeps its reviewed scientific profile in Expert and the full journal.

Retained after familiarity review: Coelurus, Fukuisaurus, Mussaurus, Pelecanimimus, Unenlagia. Existing scientific profiles and answer restrictions apply.

See the 35 names retained in Expert

Limited children’s-series exposure

Achelousaurus, Afrovenator, Altirhinus, Anchiceratops, Dracoraptor, Gojirasaurus, Jaxartosaurus, Lanzhousaurus, Pawpawsaurus, Piatnitzkysaurus, Qantassaurus, Raptorex, Sinovenator, Wannanosaurus, Xenotarsosaurus.

A single children’s-series appearance is not sufficient evidence of broad enthusiast familiarity. This is a selection judgment; the genus remains available in Expert and the full journal.

Limited secondary-game exposure

Albertaceratops, Anodontosaurus, Bagaceratops, Barsboldia, Pycnonemosaurus, Silesaurus.

A single secondary-game connection is not sufficient evidence of broad enthusiast familiarity for the smaller selection. This is a selection judgment; the genus remains available in Expert and the full journal.

Specialist editorial addition

Alxasaurus, Archaeoceratops, Buitreraptor, Epidendrosaurus, Erlikosaurus, Falcarius, Megapnosaurus, Nyasasaurus, Rhoetosaurus, Riojasaurus, Scansoriopteryx, Struthiosaurus, Tanycolagreus, Zigongosaurus.

The earlier book/reference or legal-guess addition was too specialist for the familiarity brief. This is a selection judgment; the genus remains available in Expert and the full journal.

Familiar names, scientific exceptions

A film or game appearance does not override the roster’s scientific rules. These 6 Jurassic names are excluded by the captured PBDB name treatment and are not legal guesses in either roster. Synonyms are not separate mysteries; doubtful names are not silently replaced with a different genus. Minmi remains excluded under this rule despite the documented literature disagreement.

Crichtonsaurus

PBDB treats the genus as doubtful. Crichtonpelta is a separate included identity; the names are not interchangeable guesses.

Captured PBDB status: nomen dubium.

Dracorex

PBDB treats this name as a subjective synonym of Pachycephalosaurus. The screen name is not a separate mystery answer.

Captured PBDB status: subjective synonym of.

Microceratus

PBDB treats the genus as doubtful and resolves it only to Ceratopsia. It is not replaced with Graciliceratops.

Captured PBDB status: nomen dubium.

Stygimoloch

PBDB treats this name as a subjective synonym of Pachycephalosaurus. The screen name is not a separate mystery answer.

Captured PBDB status: subjective synonym of.

Titanosaurus

The Jurassic-media name is Titanosaurus Lydekker, whose PBDB record is doubtful. A different historical Titanosaurus name is attached to Apatosaurus; that homonym is not an alias for the media animal.

Captured PBDB status: nomen dubium.

How we chose the list

We checked the Jurassic film and Evolution inventories, then the major documentary and game selections in the original draft. The selection includes the current Prehistoric East additions. Dakotaraptor was added for its released Saurian role; Anzu and Acheroraptor are explicit familiarity additions with separately described planning/art evidence.

A single children’s-series or secondary-game appearance is not an automatic inclusion. We reviewed those selections alongside specialist book additions and kept the stronger familiarity cases. Some documentary identifications come from episode and appearance indexes rather than spoken names. Media evidence establishes exposure, not measured audience recognition. Our editorial additions remain labelled as judgments.

Genus identities, diets, ages, localities, classifications and existing answer holds are copied from Expert. 4 names remain legal guesses without becoming independent hidden answers. The approved equivalent guesses for Troodon are preserved.

Search the selection

236 named records.

Possible mystery answer

Abelisaurus

Classic namesake of Abelisauridae; familiar from general dinosaur books.

Possible mystery answer

Acheroraptor

Editorial familiarity addition: Hell Creek raptor featured in official Saurian art; the art alone is not evidence of a released playable version.

Possible mystery answer

Achillobator

Possible mystery answer

Acrocanthosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Alamosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Albertosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Alectrosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Alioramus

Possible mystery answer

Allosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Alvarezsaurus

Possible mystery answer

Amargasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Ampelosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Anchiornis

Possible mystery answer

Anchisaurus

Possible mystery answer

Ankylosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Antarctopelta

Possible mystery answer

Anzu

Editorial familiarity addition: well-known Hell Creek caenagnathid, also named in Saurian’s developer FAQ. The FAQ is not evidence that its planned playable version has shipped.

Possible mystery answer

Apatosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Aquilops

Possible mystery answer

Archaeornithomimus

Possible mystery answer

Argentinosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Arrhinoceratops

Possible mystery answer

Atrociraptor

Possible mystery answer

Aucasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Australovenator

Possible mystery answer

Austroposeidon

Possible mystery answer

Austroraptor

Possible mystery answer

Avaceratops

Possible mystery answer

Bajadasaurus

Distinctive forward-facing neck spines; prominent discovery coverage.

Possible mystery answer

Bambiraptor

Memorable small feathered-raptor name in enthusiast books and models.

Possible mystery answer

Barosaurus

Major museum-display sauropod, including the American Museum of Natural History.

Possible mystery answer

Baryonyx

Possible mystery answer

Becklespinax

Possible mystery answer

Beipiaosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Borealopelta

The exceptionally preserved armoured dinosaur frequently featured in museum and popular-science coverage.

Possible mystery answer

Brachiosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Brontosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Camarasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Camptosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Carcharodontosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Carnotaurus

Possible mystery answer

Caudipteryx

A standard example in popular explanations of feathered dinosaurs.

Possible mystery answer

Cedarosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Centrosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Ceratosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Charonosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Chasmosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Chirostenotes

Possible mystery answer

Chungkingosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Citipati

Well-known brooding dinosaur; useful to distinguish the actual genus from generic “oviraptor” illustrations.

Possible mystery answer

Coelophysis

Legal guess · existing answer restriction

Coelurus

Familiar legal guess retained from the reviewed shortlist; existing Expert answer restriction is preserved.

No defensible diet clue is currently supported.

Possible mystery answer

Compsognathus

Possible mystery answer

Concavenator

Possible mystery answer

Corythoraptor

Possible mystery answer

Corythosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Cryolophosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Dacentrurus

A classic European stegosaur in illustrated dinosaur books.

Possible mystery answer

Dakotaraptor

Possible mystery answer

Daspletosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Deinocheirus

Possible mystery answer

Deinonychus

Possible mystery answer

Deltadromeus

Possible mystery answer

Diabloceratops

Possible mystery answer

Dilong

A familiar feathered tyrannosauroid in popular evolutionary accounts.

Possible mystery answer

Dilophosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Dinheirosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Diplodocus

Possible mystery answer

Dongbeititan

Possible mystery answer

Draconyx

Possible mystery answer

Dreadnoughtus

Possible mystery answer

Dromaeosaurus

The namesake dromaeosaur, common in enthusiast reference books.

Possible mystery answer

Dryosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Edmontonia

Possible mystery answer

Edmontosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Einiosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Eoraptor

Possible mystery answer

Eotriceratops

Legal guess · existing answer restriction

Epidexipteryx

Familiar legal guess retained from the reviewed shortlist; existing Expert answer restriction is preserved.

Cau 2024 tentatively combines Epidexipteryx and Epidendrosaurus in one OTU, interpreting differences through growth and incomplete preservation. This is a live proposal rather than settled consensus; a roster cut or wholesale specimen merger is not justified by this source alone.

Possible mystery answer

Euoplocephalus

Possible mystery answer

Europasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Eustreptospondylus

Possible mystery answer

Fukuisaurus

Possible mystery answer

Gallimimus

Possible mystery answer

Gasparinisaura

Possible mystery answer

Gastonia

Possible mystery answer

Giganotosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Gigantoraptor

Possible mystery answer

Gigantspinosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Giraffatitan

Major Berlin museum sauropod; a familiar name to enthusiasts beyond older Brachiosaurus usage.

Possible mystery answer

Glacialisaurus

Possible mystery answer

Gobisaurus

Possible mystery answer

Gorgosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Guanlong

Possible mystery answer

Hadrosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Herrerasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Hesperonychus

Possible mystery answer

Heterodontosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Homalocephale

Possible mystery answer

Huayangosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Hypsilophodon

Possible mystery answer

Iguanodon

Possible mystery answer

Imperobator

Possible mystery answer

Incisivosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Irritator

Possible mystery answer

Isisaurus

Possible mystery answer

Jeholosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Jobaria

Possible mystery answer

Kentrosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Kosmoceratops

Possible mystery answer

Kuru

Possible mystery answer

Lambeosaurus

Legal guess · existing answer restriction

Latenivenatrix

Familiar legal guess retained from the reviewed shortlist; existing Expert answer restriction is preserved.

2021 synonymy with Stenonychosaurus is followed by the 2025 revision; 2026 papers still acknowledge uncertainty. Merely scoring it as a separate matrix OTU is not revalidation.

Possible mystery answer

Leaellynasaura

Possible mystery answer

Lesothosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Liliensternus

Possible mystery answer

Lokiceratops

Possible mystery answer

Lufengosaurus

A classic Chinese early sauropodomorph in books and museum displays.

Possible mystery answer

Lusotitan

Possible mystery answer

Magyarosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Maiasaura

Possible mystery answer

Majungasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Mamenchisaurus

Possible mystery answer

Mapusaurus

Possible mystery answer

Masiakasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Massospondylus

Possible mystery answer

Megalosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Megaraptor

Possible mystery answer

Mei

Possible mystery answer

Metriacanthosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Microraptor

Possible mystery answer

Monolophosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Mononykus

Possible mystery answer

Moros

Possible mystery answer

Morrosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Mussaurus

A long-established name in popular accounts of dinosaur hatchlings and early sauropodomorphs.

Possible mystery answer

Muttaburrasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Nanshiungosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Nanuqsaurus

Possible mystery answer

Nasutoceratops

Possible mystery answer

Nemegtosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Nigersaurus

Possible mystery answer

Nodosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Nothronychus

Possible mystery answer

Olorotitan

Possible mystery answer

Ornitholestes

Possible mystery answer

Ornithomimus

Possible mystery answer

Orodromeus

Possible mystery answer

Oryctodromeus

Possible mystery answer

Ouranosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Oviraptor

Possible mystery answer

Pachycephalosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Pachyrhinosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Paralititan

Possible mystery answer

Parasaurolophus

Possible mystery answer

Parksosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Patagotitan

Possible mystery answer

Pectinodon

Possible mystery answer

Pegomastax

Possible mystery answer

Pelecanimimus

The conspicuously toothed early ornithomimosaur in illustrated dinosaur books.

Possible mystery answer

Peloroplites

Possible mystery answer

Pentaceratops

Possible mystery answer

Pinacosaurus

A classic Mongolian ankylosaur in enthusiast books.

Possible mystery answer

Planicoxa

Possible mystery answer

Plateosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Polacanthus

Possible mystery answer

Prenocephale

Possible mystery answer

Proceratosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Procompsognathus

Possible mystery answer

Protoceratops

Possible mystery answer

Psittacosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Puertasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Pyroraptor

Possible mystery answer

Qianzhousaurus

Possible mystery answer

Rahonavis

Possible mystery answer

Rajasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Rapetosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Regaliceratops

Possible mystery answer

Rhabdodon

Possible mystery answer

Rugops

Possible mystery answer

Saichania

Possible mystery answer

Saltasaurus

Possible mystery answer

Saurolophus

Possible mystery answer

Sauropelta

Possible mystery answer

Sauroposeidon

Possible mystery answer

Saurornithoides

Possible mystery answer

Saurornitholestes

Possible mystery answer

Scelidosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Scutellosaurus

A standard early armoured-dinosaur example in illustrated books.

Possible mystery answer

Secernosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Segisaurus

Possible mystery answer

Shantungosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Shunosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Shuvuuia

Possible mystery answer

Sinoceratops

Possible mystery answer

Sinornithosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Sinosauropteryx

Possible mystery answer

Sinosaurus

A familiar double-crested theropod in modern enthusiast references.

Possible mystery answer

Sinraptor

Possible mystery answer

Skorpiovenator

Possible mystery answer

Spinosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Stegosaurus

Legal guess · existing answer restriction

Stenonychosaurus

Familiar legal guess retained from the reviewed shortlist; existing Expert answer restriction is preserved.

2017 resurrected the genus; 2025 regards it as a junior synonym of Troodon. Do not make Troodon and Stenonychosaurus separate daily answers for the same adopted species concept.

Possible mystery answer

Struthiomimus

Possible mystery answer

Styracosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Suchomimus

Possible mystery answer

Supersaurus

Possible mystery answer

Suskityrannus

Possible mystery answer

Tarascosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Tarbosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Tarchia

Possible mystery answer

Tenontosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Tethyshadros

Possible mystery answer

Therizinosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Thescelosaurus

A familiar Hell Creek dinosaur in reference books and popular fossil accounts.

Possible mystery answer

Torosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Torvosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Triceratops

Possible mystery answer

Troodon

Possible mystery answer

Tsintaosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Tuojiangosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Tyrannosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Tyrannotitan

Possible mystery answer

Ugrunaaluk

Possible mystery answer

Unenlagia

A familiar name in South American feathered-dinosaur discussions.

Possible mystery answer

Utahraptor

Possible mystery answer

Velociraptor

Possible mystery answer

Vulcanodon

Possible mystery answer

Wuerhosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Yanbeilong

Possible mystery answer

Yangchuanosaurus

Possible mystery answer

Yi

Possible mystery answer

Yutyrannus

Possible mystery answer

Zalmoxes

Possible mystery answer

Zuniceratops

Possible mystery answer

Zuul

Memorable Ghostbusters-inspired name and widely publicised armoured-dinosaur fossils.

Gameplay check

Every one of the 232 possible answers has a tested route within the expedition’s 15-guess limit. The check requests all three standard clues and uses a reproducible strategy; its longest route is 7 guesses. This checked strategy did not need automatic field reports. Free help remains available when the runtime criteria are met. This does not guarantee every player strategy or play without clues.

Explorer and Expert have separate puzzle schedules and share one journal. Expeditions already started keep their original Explorer list until they finish; new practice rounds and future daily expeditions use the smaller selection. Earlier discoveries and dated stamps stay saved.

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