So you’re wandering through the Windward Plains, the sun is beating down on the sand, and suddenly your scoutflies start acting a bit twitchy. You’re likely looking for the Tracktail Lizard, a creature that has become the bane of many early-game hunters in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Honestly, it's kinda funny. For a game that features literal dragons and massive rock-splitting beasts, the thing that trips people up the most is a tiny blue reptile that acts like a squirrel.
If you’ve picked up Dareel’s Research Report quest at the Windward Plains Base Camp, you know the drill. Dareel wants a specimen. He talks about them like they’re these majestic biological wonders, but to you, they’re just slippery little guys that vanish the second you blink.
Why the Tracktail Lizard is actually weird
Most people expect a lizard to, well, look like a lizard. But if you look closely at these things in the Forbidden Lands, they have this bizarre habit of propping themselves up on their tails. They look like scaly meerkats. It’s a defense mechanism, basically. They use that long, spiky tail to get a better vantage point over the dunes.
Here is the thing though: their tails leave very specific marks in the sand. If you see something that looks like a small monster footprint but it’s too deep and singular, you’ve probably found a "perch mark."
They aren't just decorative. These lizards are smart. Or at least, they’re programmed to be annoying.
Finding the Oasis (and why you’re looking in the wrong spot)
If you’ve been scouring the entire map, stop. You’re wasting your stamina. Most hunters make the mistake of looking near the rocky crags or the deep caves.
Go to Area 13.
Specifically, you want the Oasis. It’s the heart of the Windward Plains. Usually, you’ll find a pair of them right near the water's edge on the eastern side. They like to start near the moisture and then wander out into the dunes as the day gets hotter.
- Pro Tip: If you can’t find them at the Oasis, check the transition path between Area 11 and Area 12.
- The "Groundwater Vein" Secret: If you have the Area 14 camp unlocked, fast travel there. Sometimes a pair spawns right at the entrance.
One thing you've gotta remember is the weather. If it’s storming—if the Sandstorm (the Inclemency period) is active—forget it. These lizards aren't stupid. They burrow deep into the sand to wait out the lightning. You need clear skies or the "Plenty" period to find them basking.
The Capture: Don't be a hero
You have a giant sword. Or a hammer. Or maybe a gun-lance that can level a small building. Do not use them.
To catch a Tracktail Lizard for Dareel, you need your Capture Net. It’s in your fixed item wheel. Most players try to sprint at them like they’re chasing a Kelbi. Bad move. These things are skittish.
If they see you coming from 50 yards away, they’ll do this little tail-flick and vanish into the sand. Gone. Poof. You’ll have to wait several minutes for them to respawn, or fast travel away and back to reset the instance.
- Crouch. Press the crouch button and move slowly.
- The Ghillie Mantle is your best friend. If you have it, use it. It makes this quest trivial.
- Aim high. The net has a bit of an arc. Hold the aim button (LT/L2) until the reticle turns orange.
- Fire. If there are two lizards together—and they usually travel in pairs—try to nab them both. Why? Because Dareel only needs one, but you can keep the others as pets in your living quarters. Plus, it’s satisfying.
Dealing with the "Bugged" Spawn Rumors
You might hear people saying the quest is bugged because the lizards aren't there. They probably aren't bugged.
The most common reason they "disappear" is that a Large Monster—like a Balahara or a Rey Dau—just stomped through the area. When a predator is nearby, the endemic life hides.
If the Oasis is empty, look for a Balahara nearby. If you see one, kill it or shoo it away with a Dung Pod. Wait a minute, and the lizards will likely pop back up from the sand like nothing happened.
What you actually get for this
Is it worth the headache? Dareel gives you 10 Honey and 50 Guild Points. In the grand scheme of Monster Hunter Wilds, that’s pocket change. You can find honey on basically every third bush in the forest.
But completing this quest is the prerequisite for Samin's Research Report, which leads to better rewards and more lore about the Forbidden Lands. It’s about the completionist grind.
Actionable Steps for your next expedition
- Check the map for the "Plenty" period before you leave base.
- Equip the Ghillie Mantle before you even enter Area 13.
- Approach the water at the Oasis from the south to stay out of their direct line of sight.
- If they burrow, don't wait around. Fast travel to a different camp and come back to force a respawn.
- Once captured, immediately go back to Dareel to clear the quest log and unlock the next tier of endemic life missions.
Don't overthink it. It's just a lizard with a very long tail and a bad attitude. Catch it, get your honey, and get back to the actual hunt.
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