Page 51 - DINOSOUR ATLAS

EuropE
Southern Britain 3#/4,!.$

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Early crEtacEous southErn britain was a vast floodplain that )2%,!.$
extended south from where London is today, across to
France and Belgium. Rivers and streams flowed down from %.',!.$
hills to the north, cutting their way through the plain, 7!,%3 ,ONDON
filling lakes, then slowing as they reached a massive 7EALDEN
'ROUP
delta clogged with sediment. The ancient foothills of "%,')5-
London were clad with forests of conifers, monkey puzzle !4,!.4)# )SLE OF
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trees, and cycads, and the floodplain was a scene of open 7IGHT &2!.#%
woodland and ferns. This was the home of Baryonyx, Neovenator, u SITE LoCATIoN
and Iguanodon—a plant-eater who was discovered before the word Dinosaur fossils found in southern Britain occur within
“dinosaur” was first used. deposits of Cretaceous sandstones, mudstones, clays, and
gravels. This material was formed 145–125 million years ago,
and is known as the Wealden Group.

BArYoNYX .
A predator of the Early Cretaceous, Baryonyx
lived in marshy, open woodland. A nearly
complete specimen was excavated in southeast
England, and the remains of its last meal were
found in its stomach area. It had eaten a
Lepidotes—a large, bony fish.

Gideon Mantell
In his spare time, English doctor
Gideon Mantell (1790–1852)
collected and studied fossils from
southern England. In February
1825, he announced his discovery
of Iguanodon. This was only the
second dinosaur to be named,
at a time when interest in the
bones of long-dead animals
was just beginning to be
taken seriously.

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