6.1" Iguanodon (Mantillisaurus) Vertebra - Isle of Wight, England

This is a 6.1" tall Iguanodon (Mantillisaurus atherfieldensis) vertebra from the Isle of Wight in England. Any British dinosaur material is pretty hard to find on the market and this is a beautiful piece. The spinous process broke free during fossilization, later to be found and repaired back to the centrum of the vertebra. It comes with an acrylic display stand.

About Iguanodon

Iguanodon was a large, herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 million years ago. It belonged to the group of dinosaurs called ornithopods, known for their bird-like, bipedal stance. Iguanodon was among the first dinosaurs to be discovered and named, with fossils first identified in the early 19th century. It is recognizable for its robust, bulky body, long tail, and a distinctive thumb spike, which likely served as a defense mechanism against predators or as a tool for foraging.

An artist's rendering of Iguanodon, by Nobu Tamura http://paleoexhibit.blogspot.com
An artist's rendering of Iguanodon, by Nobu Tamura http://paleoexhibit.blogspot.com


Typically reaching lengths of about 30 feet and weighing up to 5 tons, Iguanodon had strong hind legs, allowing it to move both bipedally and quadrupedally, depending on the situation. Its broad, beaked mouth was well-suited for cropping vegetation, and its grinding teeth suggest it primarily ate tough plants. The discovery of Iguanodon provided crucial insights into the diversity and evolution of dinosaurs, marking it as a significant find in paleontology.

The name is derived from 'Iguana', a modern reptile, and 'don', meaning tooth. Scientists used to believe that two species of Iguanodon were found on the Isle of Wight, but one species has been moved off into another genus.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis
LOCATION
Brook Bay, Isle of Wight, England
FORMATION
Wessex Formation - Wealden Group
SIZE
6.1 x 4.3"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#129356
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.