Mantellisaurus

Filed under Cretaceous dinosaurs · Types of Dinosaurs editorial team

Order: Ornithischia · Suborder: Ornithopoda · Infraorder: Iguanodontia

Mantellisaurus was an iguanodontian dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period in what is now Europe. Its name honours Gideon Mantell, one of the earliest pioneers of dinosaur science, reflecting the significant role this animal has played in the history of palaeontology. Reaching around 23 feet (7 meters) in length, it was a plant-eater whose remains are known from a remarkably complete skeleton, making it one of the best-understood members of its group.

Although closely related to the well-known Iguanodon, Mantellisaurus was noticeably more lightly built. It possessed a horse-like skull with a toothless beak at the front of its jaws, well suited to cropping vegetation, and bore a distinctive thumb spike on each hand that may have served as a weapon against predators or as a tool for handling food. It was capable of moving on either two legs or four, giving it flexibility in how it navigated its environment.

Because of its exceptionally complete fossil material, Mantellisaurus occupies an important place in understanding the diverse dinosaur faunas of Early Cretaceous Europe, and it continues to be a valuable reference point for researchers studying iguanodontian evolution and anatomy.

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Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.

Related dinosaurs

Other dinosaurs from the same period.