Iguanodon
ig-WAH-nuh-don
Iguanodon is a genus of large, herbivorous ornithopod, weighing around 3.2 tons and growing up to 8m long. This dinosaur’s name translates to ‘iguana tooth’, as its teeth bear a strong resemblance to those of an iguana – broad and flat, to help them chew tough vegetation. Iguanodon’s hands feature large spikes on the thumbs, which help it to protect itself from predators.
Discovery
The remains of the first Iguanodon were found in Sussex, England in 1822, when paleontologist Gideon Mantell unearthed multiple teeth from Tilgate Forest. The teeth were initially thought to belong to a crocodile, however further analysis by a series of experts including William Buckland and Samuel Stutchbury confirmed that it was a new genus of dinosaur.
Palaeoecology
Fossil findings show that Iguanodon lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 110-140m years ago, inhabiting much of western Europe. It co-existed with numerous other genera of dinosaur in forests and swamps near the coastline and had to defend itself from predators including the large theropod Baryonyx.
Information
- Era
- Early Cretaceous
- Family
- Iguanodontidae
- Genus
- Iguanodon
- Height
- 2M
- Length
- 8M
- Weight
- 3.2T
- Diet
- Ground Paleobotany
- Egg batch size
- 1 - 4
