A large dinosaur fossil.at an Early-Mid Cretaceous site in
Western Europe may well be from Iguanodon. Large herds
of these big plant-eaters roamed the region
for tens of millions of years.
Iguanodon probably stooped
downto carry its 5-tonne bulk
on all fours, but it might also
have reared up to run mainly
on its larger back legs. One
of its special distinguishing
features was a bony spike
on the thumb (the first digit
of the front paw), which it
might have used as a
weapon with which to jab
at enemies. As part of
Iguanodon's original
reconstruction in the
nineteenth century, this spike was
erroneously placed on the animal's nose!