**Mantellisaurus: A Dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Period**
Mantellisaurus is a type of dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 130 to 120 million years ago. This dinosaur was found mainly in Europe, with fossils discovered in countries like Belgium, England, Spain, and Germany.
The main and only species we know of is called Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis. It was named after Gideon Mantell, who first discovered the Iguanodon, a well-known dinosaur.
**Discovery and Naming**
The first Mantellisaurus fossil was found in England in 1914 by a scientist named Reginald Walter Hooley. After additional studies, it was named Iguanodon atherfieldensis in 1925, named after the village of Atherfield on the Isle of Wight where it was found.
Over the years, more fossils and bones of similar dinosaurs were unearthed. Some scientists later decided to create a new name, Mantellisaurus, for this dinosaur to reflect its unique features compared to Iguanodon. This new classification was given by Gregory Paul in 2007.
**Physical Description**
Mantellisaurus was a lighter and smaller dinosaur compared to its relatives like Iguanodon. It weighed about 750 kilograms, roughly the weight of a small car.
One of the most interesting features of Mantellisaurus is its arms. The arms were shorter than those of Iguanodon, making it more capable of walking on two legs most of the time, while it would use all four legs when moving slowly or resting.
**Other Notable Findings**
Various fossils of Mantellisaurus have helped scientists understand this dinosaur better.
– In Belgium, a notable specimen was mounted in a museum, showcasing some of the first skeletons of dinosaurs.
– In Spain, several fossils have also been found that add to our knowledge about this dinosaur family.
Researchers have also linked some other fossil discoveries to Mantellisaurus, though some of these connections are debated among paleontologists.
**Fun Fact**
There’s a sculpture known as “Iggy the Iguanodon,” based on the Maidstone specimen of this dinosaur, which can be seen at Maidstone East train station in England. This makes it the only dinosaur featured in the coat of arms of a borough in the UK!
In summary, Mantellisaurus is an essential part of dinosaur history, helping us learn about how dinosaurs lived and evolved long ago in Europe.