| Diet | Herbivore |
| Height | 3m |
| Length | 10m |
| Weight | 4.5 tonnes |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Early Cretaceous |
| Type | Ornithopod |
| Location | Belgium, Germany, England, Spain |
Iguanodon was one of the first dinosaurs ever discovered and named, making it a cornerstone of palaeontology. This large ornithopod dinosaur lived during the Early Cretaceous period, between 126 and 122 million years ago, roaming the ancient landscapes of what is now Belgium, Germany, England, and Spain. As one of the earliest dinosaur discoveries, Iguanodon helped scientists begin to understand the incredible diversity of prehistoric life.
Measuring up to 10 metres in length and weighing around 4.5 tonnes, Iguanodon was a substantial herbivore with a robust, muscular build. Its most distinctive features were its remarkable hands - each possessed a large, sharp thumb spike that could have been used for defence against predators, whilst the fifth finger was long and flexible, perfectly adapted for grasping and manipulating plant material during feeding.
As a herbivore, Iguanodon fed on the lush vegetation of the Early Cretaceous world, including ferns, cycads, and early flowering plants. Its beak-like mouth was ideal for cropping vegetation, whilst rows of grinding teeth processed tough plant material. The ornithopod could move on both two and four legs, likely walking on all fours whilst feeding but capable of rearing up on its hind legs when necessary.
Iguanodon's discovery revolutionised our understanding of prehistoric life, proving that giant reptiles once ruled the Earth long before humans appeared. The most famous specimens come from a coal mine in Bernissart, Belgium, where dozens of complete skeletons were found together in the 1870s.
Iguanodon's most recognisable features were its large, conical thumb spikes and long, flexible fifth fingers. It had a distinctive duck-like beak for cropping plants and a robust body that could support both bipedal and quadrupedal movement.
Iguanodon likely lived in herds, as suggested by the mass fossil discovery at Bernissart where multiple individuals were found together. It could switch between walking on four legs whilst feeding and rearing up on two legs when threatened or reaching for higher vegetation.
Iguanodon has appeared in various documentaries and dinosaur books, and features in the classic 1914 film 'Gertie the Dinosaur'. It often appears in educational materials about early dinosaur discoveries.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Ornithischia |
| Genus | Iguanodon |
Iguanodon was first described by Gideon Mantell in 1825. The original fossils were discovered at Tilgate Forest, Sussex, England.
