Iguanodon

Introduction:

Iguanodon, pronounced EE-gwah-NO-don, is a herbivorous dinosaur that roamed the earth approximately 150 million years ago, during the early Cretaceous period. Its name may sound a bit intimidating, but fear not, this dinosaur was known to be quite the gentle giant.

Appearance:

Iguanodons stood on two legs, had a long tail, and their back legs were much larger than their front legs. They also had a unique thumb spike that was often used for self-defense…and for opening cans of dinosaur food.

Diet:

Iguanodons were the original vegans, surviving on a diet of leaves and plants. They were known to have a particularly large appetite and could eat up to 300 pounds of vegetation in one day. So, if you needed a gardener for your prehistoric garden, the Iguanodon was your dino.

Fun Facts:

• In 1822, a fossil of an Iguanodon was discovered in England, which was the second dinosaur fossil ever discovered. This sparked a worldwide interest in dinosaurs and helped launch the field of paleontology.

• If you ever find yourself in Belgium, you might want to check out the Iguanodon Mine Museum. Not only will you learn about this fabulous herbivore, but you’ll also get to see a replica of a mine from the 19th century. It’s dino-mite!

• Iguanodons were one of the first dinosaurs to be described and named, in 1825, by a scientist named Gideon Mantell. Unfortunately, he initially thought that the spike on the dinosaur’s hand was actually its nose. Oops!

Conclusion:

The Iguanodon may not have been the fiercest dinosaur, but it certainly played an important role in the history of science. Plus, it taught us that being a herbivore doesn’t have to be boring. Anyone up for a salad?