Iguanodon fossil map
Where fossils of Iguanodon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 130 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 130 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Iguanodonts & duck-bills |
|---|---|
| Lived | 154.8–66 million years ago (Kimmeridgian to Maastrichtian) |
| Periods | Jurassic, Cretaceous |
| Named by | Mantell 1825 |
| Fossil records | 133 occurrences at 102 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | UK, Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, Belgium, Sudan, United States, India, China |
| Rock formations | txn:NF, Arcillas de Morella, Weald Clay, Wessex, Tunbridge Wells Sand, Camarillas |
About Iguanodon
Iguanodon ( i-GWAH-nə-don; meaning 'iguana-tooth'), named in 1825, is a genus of iguanodontian dinosaur. While many species found worldwide have been classified in the genus Iguanodon, dating from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, taxonomic revision in the early 21st century has defined Iguanodon to be based on at least one well-substantiated species: Iguanodon bernissartensis, which lived during the Barremian to early Aptian ages of the Early Cretaceous in Belgium, Germany, England, and Spain, between about 126 and 122 million years ago. Iguanodon was a large, bulky herbivore, measuring up to 9–11 metres (30–36 ft) in length and 4.5 metric tons (5.0 short tons) in body mass. Distinctive features include large thumb spikes, which were possibly used for defense against predators, combined with long prehensile fifth fingers able to forage for food.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Iguanodon (revision 1378531124), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q130980.
