Findin
Findin is a daily paleo-geography puzzle where you use anatomical, Earth and time clues to guess the place and time a creature lived, with one new creature puzzle each day.
Play FindinA fresh puzzle is waiting for you.
Findin presents one creature per day and asks two questions: where did it live and when did it live. Players read anatomical, occurrence and age clues, compare modern and reconstructed maps, then pick a location on the map and a time window on the clock to submit their guess.
Clues are grouped into three categories: the creature, the Earth, and the clock. The site shows reconstructed paleogeography maps for different deep-time windows, occurrence records and habitat hints, and explains how fossil records, age estimates and reconstructed coastlines inform a best estimate.
After a round, players can explore the creature's place in the tree of life and view source data. The site links to open databases and resources such as GBIF, PBDB and GPlates for occurrence records, fossil context and paleogeographic reconstructions.
How to play Findin
- Read the creature clues that describe anatomy, behaviour, diet and habitat.
- Open the Earth panel to see where the fossil was found and view reconstructed coastlines for different time windows.
- Open the clock panel and choose a broad time window rather than an exact year.
- Place a guess on the map for where the creature lived and submit your chosen time window.
- After the round, view the tree-of-life diagram and linked source records to explore the evidence.
Tips for Findin
- Use anatomical details such as teeth, limbs, feathers or armour to narrow likely environments and locomotion.
- Check habitat clues to eliminate incompatible settings like reefs versus grasslands before inspecting paleogeographic maps.
- Compare the modern reference map with the reconstructed ancient map to account for continental drift when placing your location.
- Allow for uncertainty in fossil ages and reconstructed coastlines and choose a broader time window when clues are ambiguous.
- Consult the linked data sources such as PBDB for fossil occurrence records that can confirm locality information.
Findin FAQ
What is Findin?
Findin is a daily paleo-geography guessing game that asks you to identify where and when a featured creature lived; each round presents one creature with evidence panels and a map-and-clock interface to make your guess. The game frames clues into anatomy, occurrence and age, and provides reconstructed paleogeographic maps to help place your answer.
How do I guess the place and time in Findin?
You read the provided clues, then place a location on the map for where the fossil or observation occurred and select a time window on the clock rather than an exact year. The interface shows reconstructed Earth maps for different periods so you can match coastline and continental positions to the evidence before submitting.
What types of clues does Findin provide?
Findin provides three kinds of clues: the creature (anatomy, behaviour and diet), the Earth (occurrence locality and reconstructed coastlines), and the clock (broad time windows and period context). These clue types are meant to be combined so occurrence records, habitat indicators and age estimates guide your final guess.
What data sources does Findin use for records and maps?
Findin links to and draws on open datasets and tools such as GBIF for modern records, PBDB for fossil occurrences, and GPlates for paleogeographic reconstructions. The site also references Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia and Wikidata for images and further reading.
Who made Findin?
Findin was made by mukndd.com, as indicated on the site footer. The page also shows a 2026 copyright notice alongside that attribution.
Can I explore the creature's relationships after a round?
Yes, after completing a round you can view a simplified tree-of-life diagram to see how the featured creature is related to other groups. The site also invites further exploration of source records and linked literature for deeper context.
