Facts About Iguanodon
While it might not be familiar to you, the Iguanodon has quite a reputation within the scientific world. It was one of the first dinosaurs ever discovered and lived about 125 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous period. That means it was around over 50 million years before recognisable dinosaurs like the Velociraptor or Triceratops existed!
Keep reading to learn lots of fun and interesting facts about the Iguanodon, including what it ate, where it lived, and how it played an important role in helping us understand dinosaurs.
What did the Iguanodon look like?
Given its name is so similar to the Iguana, it’s no surprise that the Iguanodon looked quite similar! It was like a big lizard, with the ability to walk on two legs as well as four. This ability was quite rare in the dinosaur world as most creatures, like the T. Rex , were strictly either bipedal or quadrupedal. That means they could either walk on two legs or four legs but couldn’t do both.
Of the thousands of species of dinosaurs that have been discovered, less than ten dinosaurs have been shown to walk on both two and four legs. Although there are likely other dinosaurs that could do this, discoveries are still ongoing, and the Iguanodon is one of very few dinosaurs that are confirmed to have this ability. That’s crazy!
The above image approximates what the Iguanodon might have looked like. Since everything we learn about dinosaurs comes from their bones or other fossils, it’s hard to say exactly what they looked like when they were alive. You might have noticed that the Iguanodon has thumbs on its front arms, which is another unique feature that isn’t common with other dinosaurs.
This spiked thumb might have been used to defend itself against predators or even just to help it grab food. As it could walk on its back two legs, it’s likely that it used its front legs similarly to how we use our arms to pick up objects. The Iguanodon’s legs were also quite strong, helping support its thick body and tail.
As the exact appearance of dinosaurs remains uncertain, the images above are provided for illustrative purposes only and have been generated using AI technology.
How big was the Iguanodon?
The Iguanodon was a relatively big dinosaur, but certainly not the biggest around. It was about 30 feet long and 10 feet tall when walking on all fours. That’s as long as a bus and as tall as a giraffe. It weighed around 4 or 5 tons, which is about the weight of an elephant. Picture an elephant as tall as a giraffe and as long as a bus, and you have the Iguanodon!
While it might not seem so big in pictures, the Iguanodon was incredibly muscular. Its hind legs were particularly strong, allowing it to move quickly on two legs, with its front legs (forelimbs) supporting. When resting or feeding, it’s more likely the Iguanodon walked on all fours.
What did the Iguanodon eat?
As a herbivore, the Iguanodon ate plants like ferns and cycads, which were plentiful in the Cretaceous period. It had a small head and a mouth that acted like a beak to nibble on plants. Its teeth were also leaf-shaped, which coincidentally are perfect for eating leaves! This also helped it grind up tougher plants, as opposed to some herbivores that could only eat soft plants.
Like other big herbivores, the Iguanodon required a lot of food to fuel its body. It’s likely it actually spent most of its time grazing in forests and plains, munching on any plants it could find. Its large thumb spike might have helped it reach plants in trees or tall bushes, so it had lots to choose from!
Where did the Iguanodon live?
The Iguanodon lived 125 million years ago in the early Cretaceous period. It lived in what we now know as Europe, with fossils being found in places like England and Germany. At that time, the Earth was warm and humid, covered with various vegetation that was perfect for Iguanodon and other herbivores.
Scientists believe the Iguanodon was a social dinosaur that travelled in packs to stay safe from predators. Larger carnivores like the Spinosaurus or Allosaurus (link articles) lived in the same areas, so it would have been smart to travel with friends! With plenty of plants to go around, there would have been no shortage of food for a travelling group of Iguanodons.
What killed the Iguanodon?
Like many other dinosaur species, the Iguanodon went extinct around 66 million years ago when a massive asteroid hit the Earth. While this asteroid likely wasn’t the direct cause of this mass extinction, it caused drastic climate changes. The Earth would have been very dark from dust and wildfires, which would also impact the growth of plants. This climate change also drastically changed the temperature.
While the Iguanodon likely didn’t survive the changing atmosphere and harsh elements, it wouldn’t have been able to find plants to eat. Many plant species would not have survived in this climate, meaning many herbivores like the Iguanodon likely died from a combination of these factors and a lack of food. Without herbivores, even carnivores that may have survived the extreme climate wouldn’t have had other dinosaurs to eat, especially with small animals dying out.
Facts about the Iguanodon
- As one of the first dinosaurs ever discovered, the Iguanodon was discovered in the early 1800s, over 200 years ago!
- Its name comes from the Greek words “Iguana” and “odon”, which means tooth. As the Iguanodon’s teeth were similar to the teeth of modern-day iguanas, it’s no surprise its name means Iguana tooth.
- While we understand today that its thumb spike was likely for defence or finding food, it was a mystery for a very long time. Some scientists thought it was a part of a large claw, while others thought it might have been a horn!
- Since it was one of the first dinosaurs discovered, scientists didn’t actually know it was a dinosaur. Initially, they put the fossils together incorrectly and thought the Iguanodon could only walk on all fours.
- The first complete dinosaur skeleton ever put together and displayed was of an Iguanodon in the early 19th
Closing Summary:
Although there’s still a lot to learn about dinosaurs, the Iguanodon paved the way for plenty of discoveries. Learning early on about the Iguanodon taught scientists a lot about other dinosaurs, as well as the creatures we have today! Not only did the Iguanodon have teeth similar to the iguana, but its hip structure was also similar to that of modern birds. Cool, huh?
If you think the Iguanodon is cool, make sure you check out our other articles! We have lots of fun facts and information to explore about dinosaurs, as well as activities! Get creative and explore, and maybe one day you’ll be a part of new discoveries, too. There’s still lots to discover, so get out there!
Iguanodon Questions & Answers Quiz
Now that you’ve learned all about the fascinating Iguanodon, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Answer the questions below based on what you’ve read and discover how much you know about this incredible dinosaur. From its unique thumb spike to its herbivorous diet, there’s so much to learn about the Iguanodon’s history and role in early dinosaur discoveries.
Ready to challenge yourself? Download the quiz now and check your answers to see how well you understand the Iguanodon. It’s a fun way to reinforce everything you’ve just discovered! Let’s get started!
