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Describer
Mantell, 1825 Time
Cretaceous Early Berriasian Valanginian Hauterivian Barremian Aptian Albian
Classification Ornithischia Ornithopoda Iguanodontia Iguanodontidae
Diet Herbivore Fossilsite
Belgium England France Germany Romania Spain US Fall Under
Iguanodon bernissartensis Length 9 meter [ I. bernissartensis: 11 meter I. hollingtonensis: 6 meter ] Info Genus - Skull Iguanodon (Mantell, 1825) = Iguanosaurus (Anonymus, 1824) Iguanodon > Iguanodon anglicus (Holl, 1829) >> Cetiosaurus brevius (Owen, 1842) Streptospondylus major (Owen, 1842) Iguanodon > Iguanodon bernissartensis (Boulenger, 1881) > Iguanodon seelyi (Hulke, 1882) Iguanodon > Iguanodon dawsoni (Lydekker, 1888) Iguanodon > Iguanodon fittoni (Lydekker, 1889) >> Iguanodon hollingtoniensis (Lydekker, 1889) Iguanodon ("Iguana tooth") wa a large heavy ornithopod that flourished in large numbers. it owes its name to its tall, ridged cheek teeth, similar to those of a modern iguana lizard, though larger. It had five -fingered hands that were unique and highly specialized. Each had a spiked thumb, three middle fingers with hoof-like claws, and a grasping fifth finger. Iguanodon was probably a peaceful herbivore capable of standing and walking either on its hind limbs or on all fours. When the hand was raised, the wrist could rotate and bring the fifth finger in towards the palm. The spiked thumb was unable to bend. Criss-crossed bony tendons overlaid the vertebrae from the upper part of Iguanodon's tail, as well as vertebrae above the hips and in the back. The tendons strengthened key regions of the spinal column and stiffened the tail. As a result of a new understanding, it is now known that Iguanodon had a horizontal back, and that its head was forward-pointing and held relatively low, counterbalanced by the long, stiff, heavy tail. In 1825, Iguanodon became only the second dinosaur to gain a scientific name. An Iguanodon shin bone had been found in 1809, but not recognized; it was subsequently forgotten, until it was identified in the 1970s.
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