Iguanodons

Unearth one of the very first dinosaurs to be discovered by humankind

It’s very easy to find ourselves captivated by big, fearsome carnivores. We imagine them prowling the plains and forests of the Mesozoic Era, stalking and hunting the peaceful herbivores and roaring with vindication as they overcome their prey and claim a meal. But we often neglect to pay attention to their prey, to the herbivores that have merited an equal place in natural history. Some – such as the Iguanodons – also have a key place in our own history, marking a milestone in our fledgling efforts to study dinosaurs.

When its fossils were uncovered in England in the early 19th century, the Iguanodon was only the second ever genus to be classified as a dinosaur. After recognising that the newly discovered specimen had teeth similar to an iguana’s, the Iguanodon earned its name and planted the seeds for the later realisation that dinosaurs had been, in fact, reptiles. Our perception of the Iguanodon has vastly changed and developed through the years, and today we can enjoy a fairly clear picture of how this hulking herbivore would have lived over 100 million years ago.

Iguanodon species existed in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods. They had evolved to become effective grazing animals: with a flexible jaw for chewing; flat, rigid teeth for grinding fibrous plants; and the ability to stand back on two legs and use their ten-metre-long bodies to reach the highest leaves.

It’s thought that Iguanodons would roam in herds for protection, similar to the herbivorous mammals of today, especially as they lacked the formidable horns and armour of other dinosaurs. However, they may have benefitted from the presence of other such herbivores, as multiple species journeyed together for mutual protection. Their world, like ours today, was a competitive one. But despite this the Iguanodon was able to prosper in many regions, including modern-day North Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America.